"Train conductors are threatened, but the management does nothing at all," says the dismayed rail union

The Independent Trade Union for Railway Employees has indicated that it will strike for six days if there is no change in the anti-aggression policy of the NMBS. However, the NMBS management has refused this because of so-called “procedural errors in the strike request”. Every day, the NMBS has to deal with five incidents against its staff. “The aggression continues to increase, but nothing is being done at all,” said Jonathan Permentier of the Independent Union of Railway Workers.

“We have been demanding improvements since 2021, but we remain stuck with an incredibly lax anti-aggression policy from the NMBS,” says Permentier. “The aggression is getting more and more serious and the integrity of the employees is increasingly at risk.” Yet, according to Permentier, the call always falls on deaf ears. “Nothing is being done. They were going to deploy more people on high-risk trains and do more access controls, but this is not happening.”

“In periods of crisis, the population is less happy and there are more cases of aggression”, says Permentier, “But instead of acting, the NMBS will cut costs, close counters and do nothing about the large staff shortage”. According to Permentier, politicians or the police are always pointed to, but the NMBS does not assume their own responsibilities. “How is it possible that in 2023 people will still be able to board the train without a ticket? There are still no entrance gates like in many other countries.”

Psychological counseling and walkie-talkies

“The service is also getting worse and that causes a lot of frustration among commuters. This frustration is also expressed to the staff, who usually cannot do anything about it,” says Permentier. “The psychological support after such an attack is also inadequate. Someone who does not get his leave for two weeks and has to fill in for others, is also subjected to taunts and physical aggression. Yet he can hardly turn to anyone. So it shouldn’t be surprising that so many people drop out.”

The communication on the trains is also completely outdated, according to Permentier. “If you as a conductor have problems or want to get defaulters off the train, this is almost impossible. We ask for something as simple as a walkie-talkie to make contact with the station and have the option to notify security directly, but nothing comes of it. Now the police or security are often in the wrong place and defaulters or aggressors simply walk away”.

Management does too little

According to Permentier, all these matters must be cast in a good anti-aggression plan: “You then have a basis with which you can work and keep the problem under control”. According to Permentier, the aim was not to strike, but to convince the management to draw up an ambitious plan regarding safety. “It is outrageous that the management pretends there is no problem.”

“The NMBS has already started a campaign with posters that say: ‘don’t hit the train conductor’, but the response from employees is very lukewarm,” says Permentier. “You don’t scare off aggressors with this and the acute staff shortage will only continue. Who wants to work in a place where you can be beaten?”