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TRADE UNION SIPTU has called for reduced capacity on public transport to protect workers and passengers from the spread of Covid-19.
In a statement, the trade union said its representatives had written today to Transport Minister Eamon Ryan asking for the new measures.
SIPTU Sector Organiser, John Murphy, said that despite the surge in infections and new restrictions “capacity on all modes of public transport remains at 100%, which sharpens the risk for both workers and passengers.”
He added that SIPTU accepts that public transport needs to keep going, but that passenger numbers need to be reduced for safety.
“While we are aware that the Government is actively considering reducing public transport service levels at weekends we believe this would be a flawed policy as it will only cut the number of vehicles and potentially lead to further overcrowding.”
Murphy added that previous decisions on public transport service levels and vehicle capacity were made by the Department of Transport without consultation with workers or their representatives.
“This is despite several attempts by SIPTU representatives to engage with the Minister for Transport concerning these issues over the last 20 months,” he said.
“We are now calling on the Minister to engage with us immediately on the introduction of a coherent and safe policy in relation to public transport services.”
SIPTU organises more than 4,500 workers employed on all forms of public transport.
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How about getting people to keep the windows open while they are at it? Yes its cold, but transport very quickly becomes a steamroom of condensation when one person gets on and slams all the windows, as if they have the final say over everyone else.
@Paul Cunningham: well said
@Paul Cunningham: would that be a someone of the non fare paying variety by any chance.
Cross their palm with silver and they would change their mind
@Splat: you cannot put a price on safety. These transport workers have operated every day without fail during this Pandemic. Capacity needs to be reduced again in line with growing covid cases.
@A -AFC: No half of them stayed at home on full pay.
Who do you think they work for?
Wear a mask like every other business
@Splat: no they didn’t, they worked while the private bus operators parked up. Public transport delivered the service government and the public wanted throughout this Pandemic.
About time nothing worse than running to the train at 8:30 to be squashed beside someone who doesnt know what a shower is
@Ellie Mae: That’s the least of your worries, surely?
@Terry Fagan VO: its my only worry i dont care about the guys who have R*pe chants i have pepper spray for the likes of those , and people drinking well i can move carriage if i need to
Sorry, but why is a Union (with now medical expertise) calling for this? This smacks of “wanting to do no work, and get paid”. Leave the medical advice to NPHET (even if NPHET are chasing their tails).
@Alan Wright: they don’t need medical expertise to ask for reduced capacity to protect their workers (and passengers) in the current situation! It doesn’t have to be granted but it’s fair enough to ask. And why the quotation marks? Did some actually say “wanting to do no work and get paid” ever?!
@Joe Kennedy: “reduced capacity” last year lead to reduced services being put on. Where were all those excess drivers working. Yep, they were at home, getting paid. So stop your BS. History repeats, and this smells like last year.
@Alan Wright: What BS?! Maybe you haven’t been following the news but there’s a pandemic on at the moment and it was around last year too, hence the “smells like last year”, the reduced capacity last year and the request for it again at the moment!
@Joe Kennedy: is the issue not too many people, for instance last year there wasn’t the demand either. This year there is demand hence the crowding, so is it not the case that rather than decrease capacity they should ramp it up further and ensure restricted numbers on services but with extra services. In that way catering to demand, with increased capacity and allowing for more distance or whatever? So yes drivers would get over time and people who want it would get more space and no one is left at the bus stop. Or have I missed the whole point here!
@This time its personable!: no not missing the point at all. That could work too, it it could be done. Was only responding to Al’s confusion over how and why a union might be involved in the situation!
@Alan Wright: “Reduced Capacity” and “Reduced Services” are two completely different things.. In the initial stages of the first lockdown services were reduced to Saturday services (as practically no one was travelling on Public transport) , which led to not enough work for all staff to always clock up their full 39 hours each week. The service returned to normal schedules as the Lockdown was eased with “reduced capacity”.
@Joe Kennedy: yeah I knew you weren’t. Sorry I dont do tone well!
@Alan Wright: reduced capacity actually led to increased buses on the road to cater for all the passengers who couldn’t fit on buses.
@Alan Wright: would you work in a unsafe enviroment
Was in london 2 weeks ago, nobody wearing masks on tube only tourist’s like ourselves, mental in rush hour
@mark o donovan: Not to be too much of a smartarse but sure if you were that worried about it why were you travelling in the first place!
I don’t drive so use public transport to get around but I have been avoiding it lately because of overcrowding and closed windows. If I can’t walk there and it’s not hugely important then I don’t go.
I agree 100% with sentiment… I was on a Dublinbus the other evening and for parts of the journey there were people standing on the upper deck… Full capacity for some drivers means – just let them pile in.
But also, If Siptu are so concerned for public health… they should be reminding their members to wear masks… since July, I’ve been on the bus at least 6 journeys a week and only twice has the driver adhered to the public advice in this regard….Why do Siptu members think the rules re Mask wearing don’t apply to them? Being in a Perspex cabin is no protection for them or passengers… And how about leading by example?
We’d have full protection on public transport if nphet declared it safe like they did with schools. Doesnt matter how many outbreaks come from schools, we still have Holohan, Norma Foley and the wet tissue Taoiseach saying schools are safe. If they used that magic power for transport it would be fine.
have your say