An online public survey concerning bus, train and tram users experience of anti-social behaviour on the public transport network was launched by the SIPTU Respect Transport Workers campaign at the annual Dublin trade union May Day march.
SIPTU Sector Organiser, John Murphy, said: “The SIPTU Respect Transport Workers campaign want to hear from passengers concerning their experiences travelling on the public transport network concerning anti-social behaviour and abuse. The survey is just six simple questions and should take people less than a minute to complete.”
He added: “The SIPTU Respect Transport Workers campaign has been very successful in highly the worsening epidemic of anti-social behaviour and abuse that our members employed on the public transport network face on a daily basis. It has also secured a commitment in the Programme for Government concerning the establishment of a dedicated transport policing service.
He added: “However, as of today nothing concrete has changed for our members employed on the public transport network with many continuing to be subjected to anti-social behaviour and abuse on a daily basis.”
SIPTU National Executive Council member and Dublin Bus worker, Stephen Millane, said: “Last year we surveyed our members working on the public transport network. We knew we had a problem with anti-social behaviour and abuse but the extent of it which was revealed in the results of our survey were, to put it mildly, shocking.”
He added: “This year we will be surveying our members again. However, we have also decided to expand our campaign to finding out what is the travelling public’s experience and what are their favoured solutions to make our public transport network a safer and more welcoming environment.”
The new survey will be launched at the Dublin Council of Trade Unions annual May Day march with the SIPTU Respect Transport Workers campaign being represented by members who are travelling on an open top Dublin Bus.