TSSA welcomes Doreen Lawrence BAME covid report

Transport union TSSA has welcomed the "light" shone on Covid and BAME communities in a report by Baroness Doreen Lawrence for the Labour Party which was published today.

Victoria station transport worker and TSSA member Belly Mujinga died from coronavirus in April 2020 and her story was one of many which helped to bring attention to the impact of covid-19 on BAME workers.

Commenting on Doreen Lawrence’s report, Manuel Cortes, TSSA General Secretary, said: “As key workers, BAME transport workers have been on the frontline throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Far too many BAME people have lost their lives to the virus and we welcome the light that Doreen Lawrence’s report shines on this.

“Covid does not discriminate, but the high death rates among BAME people have exposed the discrimination and disparity within our society. Poor and overcrowded housing, low incomes and lack of access to health services are just some of the social inequalities which must be tackled if we are to come out of this pandemic with some positive actions.

“We welcome the important contribution that Baroness Lawrence’s report makes to the investigation of covid-19 on minority communities and urge the government and employers to take up the recommendations it makes.”

The report identifies how Black, Asian and minority ethnic workers have been impacted by the Government’s failure to facilitate Covid-secure workplaces and proposes that the Government should introduce a legal requirement for employers to publish their COVID-19 risk assessments on a central government portal.

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