Our Ref: HSR/1/3
Head Office Circular: NP/79/20
27th March 2020
To: The Secretary
ALL BRANCHES
ALL REGIONAL COUNCILS
Dear Colleague,
CORONAVIRUS - COVID-19 – BUSES - HEALTH PROTECTION ISSUES
Buses are an essential service being run for and by frontline workers. It is crucial that the health risk to both the workers that run the buses and the passengers who have to travel are kept to an absolute minimum.
During the current health situation, the RMT has requested that all bus operating companies adopt the following practices as part of the fight against the spread of Covid-19:
• a transition to cashless travel during the emergency
• enhanced cleaning and sanitisation regimes on buses, buildings, mess rooms, facilities etc. especially on common touch points. I have referred to best practice as adopted by Transport for London
• ensurance that toilet and washing facilities and hand sanitisers are readily available so that staff can comply with government guidance (I have noted that some usual facilities en-route for staff may be unavailable)
• where screens are not currently fitted to buses, these to be installed to give drivers greater protection.
Please make the contents of this Circular available to all appropriate members.
Yours sincerely
Mick Cash
General Secretary