July 2021 Removal of Covid-19 Transport Regulations and Protections

Our Ref: HSR/1/3
Head Office Circular: NP/373/21
11th October 2021
To: The Secretary
ALL BRANCHES
REGIONAL COUNCILS

Dear Colleague,

JULY 2021 REMOVAL OF COVID-19 TRANSPORT REGULATIONS AND PROTECTIONS

A Special meeting of your National Executive Committee (NEC) met on 6th October 2021 to discuss a report from its Health and Safety Sub-committee relating to responses received from employers following my letter to them in July when governments in the UK removed or drastically relaxed Covid-19 restrictions. The correspondence received from employers explained what they were doing in reaction to changes in guidance from UK governments and RMT policy regarding this.

The report adopted by the NEC is as follows:

We note the response from employers to our letter in which we asked about their arrangements re Covid-19 mitigations measures, following the UK Governments relaxation/removal of Covid-19 mitigation measures in July 2021.

We note that the responses received very much reflective the situation as it was in the summer - and we believe that many of them will have relaxed arrangements subsequently.

We note none of the employers mention what they had done as regards ventilation in respect to Covid-19, even though we specifically referenced this issue in our letter to them. This is of concern as poor ventilation is one of the main ways in which the virus is spread.

In connection with this the GS is instructed to write to all employers to urge them to improve ventilation in their workplaces, and to RSSB to ask what research they are carrying out in respect to ventilation.

Branches and Regional Councils to be advised accordingly.

Please bring the contents of this circular to the attention of relevant members.

Yours sincerely

Michael Lynch
General Secretary