Nearly half of ladies transport staff have been sexually harassed at work, in keeping with a brand new survey.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) Union questioned 1,400 feminine staff throughout rail, bus, metro and passenger ferry operations.
It discovered 4 in 10 have been victims of such distressing behaviour within the final yr, with incidents together with touching and grabbing with out consent, and undesirable feedback.
Despite that, 70% of these affected didn’t report the incidents as a result of they felt their grievance wouldn’t be taken critically.
And greater than 80% of the ladies stated sexual harassment on public transport is getting worse, the survey discovered.
“I have had numerous men stroke my bum as they pass by and that’s in the day. Of a night when they are drunk it’s worse, I’ve had a group of men grab me and say come on love sit on my knee,” one of many girls quoted within the survey stated.
Others stated they had been cat-called, touched, stared at, subjected to uncomfortable conversations, given undesirable compliments or had their photos taken with out their permission.
Responding to the survey, RMT’s common secretary Mick Lynch argued elevated staffing and lowering lone working will assist make girls members really feel safer.
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He stated: “On the International day for the Eradication of Violence Against Women, this survey shows employers have much more to do in the public transport industry and the authorities in wider society, in tackling misogyny and harassment against women.
“I’m grateful to all our girls members who took half and shared their experiences a few of which make for uncomfortable studying.
“RMT will always support our women members at work in combatting sexual harassment and hold employers to account for any shortcomings.”
Job cuts, in addition to pay and circumstances, had been one of many focal factors of RMT’s dispute with the practice corporations, which has led to extended strike motion.
But the 2 sides have lately reached a deal that would deliver the long-running disagreement to an finish.
Plans for ticket workplace closures and job losses have been dropped as a part of the settlement, Mr Lynch stated, but it surely nonetheless wanted to be voted on by the membership.
Source: information.sky.com”