EXCLUSIVE: Staff demand action as attacks rocket at Lewisham station

Rail workers’ leaders are demading urgent action after a string of attacks on staff in one station.

The RMT unon want more effective protection for drivers and staff at Lewisham railway station in the wake of a surge of COVID-related assaults on staff.

In one incident alone this month a member of staff was spat at in the face and two others verbally abused and threatened by a man who was vandalising the station. 

This is the second time the worker has been spat at and the third time he has been assaulted, leaving him terrified of returning to work.

The incident is the latest in a long line of violent assaults, threats, racial abuse and intimidation that staff report happens on almost a daily basis. Insiders have claimed there have been 34 incidents in the last two years. Southeastern, who run the station, deny the figures but have declined to give a more accurate figure.

The union says that the appalling situation at Lewisham is evidence of why transport workers should be given the priority protection they deserve in the midst of the COVID pandemic. 

Local staff say there may have been even more incidents – but staff have got so numbed to them that they no longer report some flashpoints.

RMT is issuing the following  demands from station operator Southeastern:

• current weak risk assessments are shredded and replaced with ones that are strengthened and take into account the risk of assault
• the company takes appropriate steps to protect staff, including the request of an additional British Transport Police presence
• the company provides proper chain of care following incidents
• an end to lone working in the station which leaves workers vulnerable
• prominent publicity campaign and announcements at the station publicising zero tolerance to assaults

RMT General Secretary, Mick Cash said: “It is a disgrace that frontline workers at Lewisham station have to go to work wondering if they will be the victim of a COVID-related or other assault.

“RMT is calling on the station’s operator, Southeastern, to take appropriate steps to protect staff, request additional British Transport Police presence and take a zero tolerance approach to offenders.

“We are also calling for an end to lone working in the station which leaves workers both in fear and vulnerable.  

“Today the union is issuing specific advice to our members at Lewisham station on personal safety including to “safe stop” and walk off the job if they assess they are at risk of assault.”

A Southeastern spokesperson said: “We take the safety and security of both our staff and passengers extremely seriously and are investigating this situation thoroughly. We do not tolerate these kind of incidents and we are working with the BTP and the unions to identify measures to increase protection for our colleagues.”