Three-quarters of London transport workers 'face violence during Covid'
Staff report violence has got worse since the start of the pandemic
Three out of four transport staff in London have been subjected to violence at work during the Covid crisis, new research suggests.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport union said its study of workers in public-facing roles on London Underground and Transport for London (TfL) rail networks showed they need more support.
The union said that more than half of staff reported being threatened with physical violence and 28% were racially harassed.
Moreover, 14% reported being spat at or targeted with bodily fluids and 7% had been sexually assaulted.
Three out of five respondents said they believed violence had got worse since the start of the pandemic.
The majority of the 1,000 workers surveyed also said the Government's "mixed messaging" around lifting Covid restrictions had made the situation worse for them.
"No more condescending 'thank yous' from the Government"
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: "Life on the front line of London's transport has got harder and more dangerous for the key workers who have kept the capital moving during the Covid crisis.
"I don't want to hear more condescending 'thank yous' from Government ministers who are trying to drive down our members' living conditions while sowing chaos in their shambolic response to the coronavirus.
"We need a total sea change in attitudes toward staff in which we see them as central to rebuilding passenger confidence and to creating a safer working and travelling environment."