CWU Slams SE Trains over Sick Postman Dog Attack Posters

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CWU Slams South Eastern Trains over Sick Postman Dog Attack Posters

The Communication Workers Union today (Wednesday) slams South Eastern Trains for acting irresponsibly by displaying posters advertising 'Season Tickets Sales by Post' illustrated by a postman being attacked by a dog with the strap line: "good news for you - bad news for the postman".

Dave Joyce, CWU National Health and Safety Officer said: "6,000 postmen and women get attacked, bitten and mauled by dogs every year whilst delivering the mail and the problem is continuing to get worse. Many of the attacks result in serious debilitating physical injuries and mental trauma for CWU members. Many never fully recover. Two of our members nearly died when attacked by dogs in the last two years.

"The problem of bad tempered, aggressive dogs coupled with irresponsible owners presents a real danger to our members. It's unforgivable for a major rail company to depict the very serious problem of dog attacks on postal workers in such a light hearted, flippant way.

“It's no joke and this type of thing simply encourages those irresponsible dog owners to continue not taking their responsibilities seriously."

Dave Joyce has written to South Eastern Trains asking them to get rid of the posters from their railway stations and to act more responsibly.

The Communication Workers Union launched its Bite-Back campaign last year to raise the profile and awareness of the problem and to seek government's support for changes to the Dangerous Dog Laws along with better enforcement by UK police forces and harsher Court penalties. Angela Smith MP has now secured a Ten Minute Rule Bill on the issue of changing the law on dangerous dogs which currently leaves people with no protection for attacks which take place on private property.

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South Eastern Trains, which runs services into London, has been attacked for displaying posters advertising the renewal of season tickets by post illustrated by a postman being chased by a dog.

The Communication Workers Union, which has launched a campaign against dog attacks on postal workers, accused the firm of acting "irresponsibly".

The union has written to the train operator, which also runs services across South East England, urging it to remove the posters from stations.

The rail firm said it had not intended to cause offence and pledged that when the posters are replaced, different ones will be used.

Dave Joyce, the union's health and safety officer, said: "Around 6,000 postmen and women get attacked, bitten and mauled by dogs every year while delivering the mail and the problem is continuing to get worse.

"Many of the attacks result in serious debilitating physical injuries and mental trauma for CWU members. Many never fully recover. Two of our members nearly died when attacked by dogs in the last two years.

"The problem of bad tempered, aggressive dogs coupled with irresponsible owners presents a real danger to our members. It's unforgivable for a major rail company to depict the very serious problem of dog attacks on postal workers in such a light hearted, flippant way.

"It's no joke and this type of thing simply encourages those irresponsible dog owners to continue not taking their responsibilities seriously."

The union launched its Bite Back campaign last year to raise the profile and awareness of the problem and to seek the Government's support for changes to the Dangerous Dog Laws along with better enforcement by UK police forces and harsher court penalties.

The posters show the silhouette of a postman being chased by a dog, with his bag flying in the air.