TSSA back Sadiq Khan's call for inquiry into BAME Covid-19 impact

TSSA General Secretary, Manuel Cortes, has backed a call from London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, for the Government to launch an independent public inquiry into the impact of Coronavirus on BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) communities.

Manuel Cortes also welcomed measures set out by the Mayor to protect those most at risk – with greater accessibility to risk assessments.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has shown that black men and women are nearly twice as likely to die from Coronavirus than white men and women, after taking into account age and socio-demographic factors.

Manuel Cortes said: 

"This is a really welcome step from Sadiq given the clear evidence that people from BAME backgrounds are being hardest hit by this terrible virus.

"The Government must act now to ensure we understand exactly why people from BAME backgrounds are likely to suffer more than others. An independent inquiry would do that – and help protect lives in the future.

"We must do all we can for communities across London and the rest of the country and that is why our union has been pushing to make sure all risk assessments across our public transport system take into account this heightened risk from Covid-19 to BAME communities.

"Our members, as transport workers, are on the front line every day in the fight against this pandemic and in the battle to keep Britain moving. They need to know bosses are getting to grips with any increased risks they face in the course of their duties, and not be put in harm’s way."