BUS MEMBERS ARE KEY WORKERS

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: november/december 2020 :: RMTnews 8 Members employed in the bus industry are increasingly concerned about their health, safety and well-being as many areas of country see increasing prevalence of the coronavirus Covid 19. Throughout this awful pandemic transport workers have been working through it - key workers who have kept Britain moving. Now, conflicting rules and regulations, a lack of enforcement of virus control measures and a return to cash handling are causing great concern amongst our bus members. Firstly, a return to cash handling and giving change to passengers - whilst the bus companies are encouraging cashless payments, the return of children to schools and young people to colleges and universities has clearly led to an increase in cash payments leading to our members having to deal with more cash handling. I’ve seen opinion that says handling cash is perfectly safe and other opinion that says the virus can live on surfaces for some time - clarity is needed from scientific experts on the realities of risk and representations need to be made to both the industry and government to obtain this clarity.  If cash handling increases risk at a time of increasing infections then the authorities and industry need to make alternative provision for school children that alleviates using cash payments - that may be complicated but it may also be essential. Secondly, there is the enforcement of social distancing. Many will be aware that service buses are supposed to have social distancing on board although there is some confusion about how it can possibly be managed - with few answers being forthcoming. However, contract buses such as those used on school runs do not apparently have to have social distancing on board but where is the scientific and medical evidence for the safety of this practice in terms of the passengers but also the potential viral load on a bus? I know Stagecoach is looking at ventilation systems as winter is upon us and many passengers will close windows on buses - but the BUS MEMBERS ARE KEY WORKERS RMT regional organiser Craig Johnston looks at the challenges members face in the bus industry