TSSA commemorates Belly Mujinga anniversary

On Friday 5 April at 11am TSSA will be marking four years since our member Belly Mujinga died from coronavirus by laying a memorial wreath and holding a one-minute silence at Victoria Station. 

Belly worked at Victoria station in central London and was one of the first front-line workers to die of Covid 19, which went on to take the lives of many more colleagues across the transport and travel industries. More than 100 transport and travel workers lost their lives to coronavirus in London between 2020 and June 2022.

Belly had reported being coughed and spat at by a member of the public on the concourse at Victoria station and was frightened that this was how she contracted the deadly virus. Belly sadly died on 5 April 2020 at Barnet hospital. She was 47 years old and left behind her young daughter, Ingrid, and devoted husband, Lusamba.

Belly’s story touched the world, becoming an international news story, and Belly's name was displayed in Black Lives Matter demonstrations later that year.

Commenting, TSSA General Secretary Maryam Eslamdoust said “Today we remember Belly Mujinga, a much-loved mother, friend, and trade union member. My thoughts are with Belly’s family and friends on this anniversary.

“What happened to Belly could have been prevented if better protections, including PPE, had been in place. We will not stop campaigning until every rail worker feels safe in their place of work.

“No one should be put in a position where their working conditions leave them in danger or frightened for their safety. TSSA will do everything we can to honour Belly’s memory and fight for improved health and safety standards across our rail network.”