rrorisnri begins school
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EMPLOYMENT, that spurious use for the behaviour of mg thugs, cannot be quoted iustify violence towards )lic transport crews by school dren. According to the nsport and General Workers' ion, they are responsible for nearly a third of the attacks and the most dangerous period of the day is 3-6pm when the deliquents are returning from school.
Delegates to the union's conference in the Isle of Man called for tougher penalties, stronger measures to protect crews and a Government inquiry into the problem. One of them made an impassioned appeal to drivers and conductors to go to the aid of their colleagues in distress instead of walking away.
Surely this exhortation should not be necessary to those who pride themselves on their solidarity with their union brothers? Or is obedience to solidarity implicit only when the enemy is an employer?
Putting a charitable face on the matter, perhaps the risk of further beating up by children's parents and prosecution for assault on the little dears makes cowards of all but the bravest. Until parents, who are fundamentally responsible for aggression by their offspring, are made to share the penalties for it, I see little hope of an improvement.