Bus drivers 'need help to enforce Covid guidelines' say union
There's calls for more protection for bus drivers after two were assaulted in Bristol this week.
Last updated 4th Sep 2020
The First Bus drivers were attacked in separate incidents in Lawrence Hill and Hengrove - and police say arrests have been made.
The Unite Union say members are getting into rows with passengers about whether buses are too full to get on.
They're calling for more support for drivers who're enforcing covid restrictions.
Unite regional officer Brett Sparkes said: "After the assaults the drivers were taken to hospital for medical checks, including for Covid-19 and HIV.
"The buses involved have also been thoroughly cleaned and decontaminated which was overseen by our health & safety rep.
"As this is now a police matter I don’t want to comment on the specifics of the incidents, however we unreservedly condemn all attacks, whether physical and/or verbal, against key workers.
"These workers, employed by bus companies, the NHS, local government and supermarkets, have kept vital services running smoothly during the continuing pandemic.
"Bristol’s dedicated bus drivers are important cogs in the transport system as more people return to work in offices, schools and businesses throughout the south west."
Unite national officer for passenger transport Bobby Morton said: "Unfortunately, the reported incidents are not isolated events - we have other such assaults reported by our members across the UK.
"For the last six weeks, we have been asking the government and the bus operators to monitor the number of passengers getting on buses, as many people are ignoring the instruction to wear face coverings on public transport.
"Despite Unite’s repeated calls for the government and bus managers to police what’s happening as more people travel to return to work, our pleas have fallen on deaf ears.
"Ministers and the bus companies need to step up to the plate to ensure the public complies with the instruction to wear face coverings on public transport.
"We have 80,000 public transport workers across the country and Unite won’t tolerate such attacks on our members doing their best for the travelling public in exceptional and difficult circumstances.
"Unite’s officers and reps are working closely with the respective bus company managements to reduce the risk of assaults as far as humanely possible. We also strongly support the swift prosecution of all alleged offenders by the courts."