Coronavirus bus summit called for

Trade union RMT has called for a National Bus Coronavirus Safety Summit to oversee a national plan to protect bus drivers and passengers as the Prime Minister considers easing lockdown measures.

The RMT cites a study it conducted over a nine-day period last month, taking in the responses of 500 of its bus worker members. The study found 40% of the employees thought their employer’s actions to protect them from the virus was poor or terrible. Almost half think their employer has put profit before safety, with a quarter not believing this was the case. One in five of those surveyed claimed they had not been issued any PPE by their employer. Only half said they had a screen fitted in their cab by their employer, while less than 5% said they had been issued face masks.

RMT is calling for a summit that would agree a binding national plan on all bus operators to implement the best possible protections for bus workers and passengers.

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said: “As passenger numbers increase we need a national Bus Coronavirus Safety Summit to agree a national plan to implement rigorous safety measures to protect bus workers and passengers, including adequate PPE, enforcing social distancing and using cashless travel.”