Assaults On Northern Rail Staff

EDM number 715 in 2007-08, proposed by Linda Riordan on 16/01/2008.
Categorised under the topics of Anti-social behaviour, Crime, Crimes of violence and Railways.

That this House applauds the vital work of Britain's railway workers who as essential public servants deserve to be treated fairly and with dignity and respect; is concerned that the most recent Railway Safety Standards Board Report found that in the last five years physical, verbal and threatening assaults on railway staff have risen from 3,179 per annum to 4,897 per annum; believes this unacceptable increase in assaults demonstrates that there is a duty not only on the railway companies to take action to prevent all types of assaults but also a duty of care and support for those staff who are assaulted; therefore condemns the heartless and greedy actions of Northern Rail whose new policy will mean that staff who are required to take time off work as a result of an assault will receive average earnings only if the assault resulted in a severe physical injury; further notes that this policy is being introduced despite Northern Rail returning over £16 million in operating profits last year; is appalled that the new policy will mean staff assaulted by less serious injuries and abusive and threatening behaviour, including sexist, racist and homophobic threats, will suffer a loss of earnings if they take time off work; further believes this short-sighted policy sends out the message that anti-social and disruptive behaviour is not taken seriously by Northern Rail; and urges the company to restore immediately its previous policy of paying average earnings to staff who have suffered physical, verbal and threatening assaults.

This motion has been signed by a total of 54 MPs, 1 of these signatures have been withdrawn.