TRANSPORT unions today urged the public to respect travel workers over the festive season after a railway worker was fatally attacked at work.

TSSA general secretary Maryam Eslamdoust said the shocking death of Jorge Ortega, who died after being attacked at Ilford station last Wednesday, was a “grim reminder of the unacceptable levels of violence faced by transport workers.”

She added: “While many people are celebrating the season with parties and gatherings, countless transport workers are working tirelessly to ensure everyone gets home safely.

“Our demand is clear: employers, passengers, and the government must take immediate action.

“We call on them to stand with us to ensure transport workers are treated with the dignity and safety they deserve, not just during the holiday season, but every day of the year.”

Aslef Scotland organiser Kevin Lindsay said: “To help incentivise improved behaviour, we would like to see the Scottish government strengthen the legislation that puts in place stronger penalties to punish those people who systematically misbehave on our trains and treat rail staff with terrible disrespect, and at times criminal behaviour.”