As European Mobility Week comes to a close, ETF and its affiliated unions in urban public transport (UPT) presented new research on the severe problem of third-party violence in the sector.
Third-party violence (TPV) refers to violence, aggression and harassment against public transport workers from passengers and other members of the public. Public transport unions have consistently demanded that stronger action be taken by employers and governments to prevent violence. The long-term effects of violence, such as anxiety, stress and the fear of returning to work, are felt not only be affected workers but the whole workforce and the transport system as a whole.
A report commissioned by ETF and ITF on the global scale of the problem highlights why TPV is so prevalent. Firstly, underreporting of incidents leads to an understatement of the problem. Secondly, understaffing due to budget cuts mean that many staff are working alone, making them more vulnerable to violence. Finally, there is a lack of preventative measures in many workplaces, such as adequate risk assessments or de-escalation training for workers.
Women workers are particularly affected by TPV. A recent survey of female UPT workers carried out by ETF showed that 71% of them had experienced violence or harassment in their current job and 75% of respondents feel targeted by passengers because of their gender. Critically, only 50.8% formally reported the most recent incident of violence or harassment. It is clear that TPV is one of the principal reasons that public transport struggles to recruit and retain women.
However, concrete steps are being taken by unions and operators to deal with third-party violence. Based on good practices from around the world, ETF demands the following measures
From governments:
- Provide sufficient funding to improve staffing levels
- Recognise TPV as a psychosocial risk, including in the upcoming EU Quality Jobs Act
- Adopt specific legislation to sanction perpetrators of violence
From employers:
- Undertake proper risk assessments and preventative measures in collaboration with unions
- Procure safe vehicles and infrastructure, such as including protective in buses or good lighting and CCTV in stations
- Revise reporting procedures and provide better follow-up support for victims of violence
Read the report Violence Against Public Transport Workers: Trade Union Responses in English, French or Spanish here.
