RTBU outlines plan to minimise risk of infections on Melbourne’s public transport
Victoria’s public transport union suggests a limit on passenger numbers and staggered work hours to ensure a safe return to public transport. It comes after a member of the public spat on a station worker.
HS Coronavirus News
Don't miss out on the headlines from HS Coronavirus News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Passenger numbers on trains, trams and buses should be capped and employers urged to stagger work hours to limit coronavirus infections, the state’s public transport union has urged. Rail, Tram and Bus Union state secretary Luba Grigorovitch has called on the government to adopt new measures for an uptick in travellers now that movement restrictions have eased.
She urged for maximum passenger limits on each service, hand sanitiser at stations, a massive cleaning program and more off-peak travel.
The union also called for a public safety campaign after a member of the public spat on a station worker.
“Maximum passenger numbers need to be established to ensure safe compliance with social distancing,” Ms Grigorovitch said. “This needs to be monitored to ensure personal safety is not compromised.
“In the event any transport mode is unable to accommodate safe social distancing, passengers should be encouraged to wait for the next appropriate service.”
Ms Grigorovitch said services should also be cleaned halfway through each journey and workers could disinfect every train that terminates at Flinders Street Station.
“Going forward, it is prudent that quality hygiene stations be established at transport hubs into the future,” she said.
“Employers may also need to do their bit and accept workers must not be disciplined for inadvertently arriving late due to these circumstances and should do all they can to offset any demand for peak services by modifying start and finish hours.”
Ms Grigorovitch said she had written to the government this week after a number of public transport workers had been abused, including an incident of spitting, in the past two weeks.
The spit landed in the worker’s mouth and they are now being tested for COVID-19.
“Sadly, I have a long list of similar occurrences, which happen weekly to frontline staff,” she said.
A government spokesman said the message for Victorians remained the same.
“If you can stay at home you must stay at home and if you must travel on public transport, we ask all Victorians to keep your distance and avoid busy services where you can,” he said.
“As more Victorians move around the city in the months ahead, the Department of Transport will continue to work on additional strategies, based on the Chief Health Officer’s advice to keep Victorians safe.”
WHAT THE RTBU WANTS TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT NETWORK
A cap on passenger numbers for each service
Employers to embrace modified work hours to reduce peak demand
Stronger cleaning regimes, including in the middle of services
Workers at Flinders Street Station disinfecting trains as they terminate
Hand sanitiser available at all stations or on trains
Extra services during off-peak times to help social distancing
MORE NEWS
MORE INFECTIONS LINKED TO MCDONALD’S CLUSTER