Teachers and lecturers assaulted at work will be among those who will lose out under controversial Government changes to a scheme for compensating victims of crime, union leaders have complained.
The coalition has come under attack for pressing ahead with reforms to the Criminal Injuries Compensation scheme despite warnings they will hit shop, rail and postal workers injured in incidents.
Train drivers affected by rail suicides, postal workers attacked by dogs and shop staff injured or traumatised by crime will be among those who will no longer be able to claim compensation, said unions.
The Educational Institute of Scotland said teachers and lecturers who suffer injuries such as dislocated collar bones and fractured ribs after being assaulted at work will also have their right to compensation taken away.
General secretary Larry Flanagan said: "This is a vindictive and unnecessary attack on victims of crime, assaulted and injured in their workplaces, by a Government which is handing out tax cuts to millionaires.
"These proposed changes display a callous disregard for the right of teachers, and other frontline public sector workers, not to be assaulted in their workplace."
Unions representing railway and postal workers staged a demonstration against the changes outside Parliament.
The reforms were approved by nine votes to seven in a committee which Labour said was "stacked" with Government supporters.
The Ministry of Justice said the Government was dedicated to preserving compensation to the most seriously injured victims of crime.
A £500,000 hardship fund is being established for low earners who are forced to take time off work because of their injuries, and are not covered by a sick pay scheme.
