Irish Rail staff are facing threats of violence, sexual assault and open drug use on an almost daily basis, according to the NBRU.
The union is balloting its members for industrial action in protest at the “lack of protection” offered to staff right across the rail network against the “anti-social behaviour and downright thuggery that has now gone well beyond tipping point.”
It set out its concerns in a letter to the CEO of Irish Rail, the Taoiseach and a number of Government ministers.
On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, NBRU General Secretary Dermot O’Leary said Irish Rail staff have “reached the end of their tethers” after years of anti-social behaviour.
“There is anti-social behaviour on some lines that would be classed in some quarters as low grade – stone-throwing, graffiti and just boisterous general unruly behaviour in stations,” he said. “That is a concern in itself.”
“But certainly, in terms of the more serious stuff that is out there … threats of sexual assault - significantly on a number of women who work in those roles - drunken behaviour, threats and physical violence.
“Some people don’t work on trains anymore as a result of some of the stuff that has been going on.
“You know, shooting up openly, cocaine use – it goes on and on and on.”
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