Transport union RMT has written to employers across the industry setting out ‘core demands’ designed to protect the safety of both staff and the public and the rights and livelihoods of the transport workforce. The union has also written to the UK, Scottish and Welsh governments and the Mayor of London, who are all responsible for overseeing transport services, asking that they support the union demands. RMT wants assurances that workers absent due to the virus should receive full pay on day one, and that related absences should not trigger absence procedures. It adds that contractors should be required to operate the same protective system. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “Nowhere is more critical in terms of delaying the spread of the coronavirus than the transport network and the union is setting out a clear set of demands designed to protect staff and passenger safety as well as the rights and livelihoods of all staff – both directly employed and contracted out.” He added: “RMT is monitoring the situation but of course we recognise that vast numbers of our members are in constant contact with the public, often in a confined environment, and the union will take whatever action is required to protect them.” Rail union TSSA has said it is ‘vital’ the government convene an urgent summit looking at measures to stop the spread of coronavirus across public transport networks.
RMT news release. TSSA news release.