Vanessa O’Keefe, a Dublin bus driver with 17 years of experience, has witnessed a troubling rise in anti-social behaviour during her tenure. She’s among many transport workers sharing their harrowing experiences, as highlighted in a recent survey published by Siptu.
The survey, which polled transport sector members, reveals that 83% perceive abuse and anti-social behaviour as a prevalent issue at work. Shockingly, 21% report experiencing such incidents daily, with 30% encountering them weekly.
On the Dublin Luas service, 98% of surveyed workers flagged anti-social behaviour as a concern, with 84% deeming it a major worry. Additionally, nearly three-quarters noted daily abuse, while a quarter faced it weekly.
One respondent recounted a distressing incident of racial abuse towards a female passenger, revealing the dilemma faced by transport workers in intervening due to company protocol.
Alan O’Brien, a Luas customer assurance agent, highlighted the severity of the situation, citing multiple assaults and threats of violence, including sexual violence, as a daily occurrence.
Similarly, Iarnród Éireann driver Alan Dawson noted a surge in anti-social behaviour on trains, including drug dealing, in recent years. Frontline staff, including drivers and ticket personnel across various transport services, reported instances of physical abuse, with minority community members facing heightened levels of mistreatment.
In response, Siptu has launched a campaign advocating for the immediate establishment of a National Transport Advisory Council, as mandated by legislation since 2008. The union calls for the creation of a dedicated policing unit for public transport and the implementation of a ‘transport charter’ outlining unacceptable behaviour towards staff.
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