Threats of violence could trigger suspension of bus services in Limerick, union warns
Siptu organiser Andrew Quigley said he received numerous reports of increased levels of anti-social behaviour on Bus Éireann's route 303 service in recent days.
The incidents include young people throwing stones at bus windows and workers being subjected to verbal abuse and threats of violence.
Mr Quigley claimed some incidents are not being reported due to delayed responses from gardaí as a result of high levels of demand on their resources.
'Our members are raising serious concerns about their safety and well-being while operating this route,' he said.
He called on Bus Éireann to hold meetings with all stakeholders, including trade unions, the local authority and gardaí, to work on eliminating the threat to passengers and workers.
Siptu has written to the company to request an urgent meeting to discuss the incidents.
Mr Quigley said there was serious damage to buses and endangerment of workers in recent days.
'If action is not taken to deal with what is a long term and recurring issue on this route then our members will be forced to suspend services,' he said.
'This is something they do not wish to do as they fully understand the detrimental impact which it has on the local community.'
Siptu sector organiser John Murphy said the solution to a crisis of anti-social behaviour on the public transport network is the creation of a standalone transport policing service.
The union has called for the introduction of this service as part of a Respect Transport Workers campaign.
Mr Murphy said the Government has included this objective in its Programme for Government.
'Our members stand ready to work with all stakeholders to make the creation of such as service a reality in as short a time frame as possible,' he said.
'However, prior to this goal being achieved services must continue to operate in all communities. We believe the engagement with stakeholders to immediately bring greater safety for workers can be done in tandem with the work necessary to establish the foundations of the new transport policing service.'
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