Tube booze ban fails to tackle real problem

The RMT rail union has said that London mayor Boris Johnson should personally apologise to every tubeworker assaulted, abused and spat on when his booze-ban was introduced on London Underground earlier this month.

The union found that at least six staff were physically assaulted and another 50 spat at or verbally abused during a ‘booze party’ on the Circle Line organised to mark the introduction of the ban.

The RMT says the ban was imposed without consultation with tube staff and does not tackle the real problem, because people are drunk before they get onto a tube.

Bob Crow, RMT general secretary said: “RMT’s advice to its members is quite clear: if they believe they are at serious risk they should exercise their right to refuse to work, to take trains out of service or close stations as appropriate, and their union will support them every inch of the way.”