TRANSPORT UNION RMT has today written to employers across the industry setting out a list of core demands designed to protect the safety of both staff and the public as well as the rights and livelihoods of the transport workforce. 
The union has also written to the UK Government, the Scottish and Welsh Governments and the Mayor of London, who are all responsible for overseeing transport services, asking that they support these demands. 
The letter covers the following areas:

Pay
Assurances that should transport workers be absent as a result of self-isolation or having contracted the Coronavirus they will receive full sick pay from day one and that any payments will not be counted against their sick pay entitlement.

Sickness Absence Procedures
Assurances that should transport workers be absent as a result of self-isolation or having contracted the Coronavirus that this absence will not be counted against, nor trigger, any sickness absence procedure.

Contractors
Where employers have contractors working for their company they will be advised that they are expected to adhere to the above and not deviate in any way.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said:

“Nowhere is more critical in terms of delaying the spread of the Coronavirus than the transport network and the union is setting out a clear set of demands designed to protect staff and passenger safety as well as the rights and livelihoods of all staff – both directly employed and contracted out. 

“RMT is monitoring the situation but of course we recognise that vast numbers of our members are in constant contact with the public, often in a confined environment, and the union will take whatever action is required to protect them.”