22 February 2021
RMT Press Office:
RMT issues new warning of a cocktail of dangers for bus driver safety as government confirms mass opening of schools on 8 March.
BUS UNION RMT has issued a new warning over bus driver safety as the Government confirms mass opening of schools on 8 March.
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said;
“RMT members who have direct experience of the way the return to school was previously so poorly managed by the bus employers as lockdowns were relaxed now have even greater levels of concern.
“High infection rates, new variants of Covid-19, combined with a mass return to school and poor enforcement of face mask wearing and social distancing, could represent a cocktail of dangers and greater risks for our drivers.
“The latest Office of National Statistics data on the workforce – broken down by occupation – has already shown the greater burden and higher exposure to risk being experienced by bus drivers and our officials have received too many reports of poor crowding and social distancing and a complete lack of any enforcement of Covid rules.”
“We have written to Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Transport, demanding his Department step in to lead and coordinate a safe method of working for bus workers with the introduction of more robust enforcement, including by the Police of mask wearing and social distancing rules on board buses.”
Ends.
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