Amid attacks on bus drivers, union demands urgent action
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The Luxembourg-Villerupt bus line (ligne Luxembourg-Villerupt), which has long had a reputation for being "problematic", has once again come under the spotlight after another attack on a driver. The Luxembourg Confederation of Christian Trade Unions (LCGB - Lëtzebuerger Chrëschtleche Gewerkschaftsbond) issued a strong statement calling for immediate and concrete measures to protect transport workers.
The LCGB press release emphasises that drivers are forced to work under constant stress, intimidation and an unsafe environment. Both verbal and physical assaults are mentioned - some of which required medical intervention. The vulnerability of women drivers in this environment is particularly emphasised.
The union, which represents the majority of transport workers, said it was "deeply outraged" by the situation and said what was happening had long since crossed acceptable boundaries. The LCGB demands that all transport companies take urgent measures to ensure the safety of staff, both from physical and psychological abuse.
Already in November 2021, at a meeting of the coordination committee for public transport safety, the union succeeded in securing funding from the Ministry of Mobility to install secure cabs for drivers. However, according to the LCGB, only 43 per cent of the RGTR fleet is currently equipped with such structures - progress has been too slow.
The union is demanding an immediate acceleration of this process, with priority given to high-risk routes: the Luxembourg-Villerupt line (ligne Luxembourg-Villerupt), as well as destinations to Longwy (ligne Luxembourg-Longwy) and Mont-Saint-Martin (ligne Luxembourg-Mont-Saint-Martin).
The LCGB is also speaking directly to passengers, reminding them of the importance of basic respect for bus drivers - those who provide a vital public service every day. "These are not just jobs - they are the faces of our public transport," the statement emphasises.
