Unions Tell Swann and Mallon to Prioritise Vaccinating Essential Transport Staff

Transport and travel unions TSSA, SIPTU, and GMB have today (Thursday) written to Minister for Infrastructure Nichola Mallon and Health Minister Robin Swann calling on them to ensure essential frontline transport workers are prioritised for vaccination against coronavirus.

The letter, which is signed by TSSA General Secretary Manuel Cortes, GMB Regional Organiser Peter Macklin, and SIPTU Industrial Organiser NI Niall McNally says that frontline transport workers have “put their lives on the line” during the pandemic and request that all essential transport workers are next in line for vaccination after vulnerable groups and healthcare workers.

The unions also argue that public transport workers are essential to the vaccination programme, allowing vaccination staff and patients to travel to their appointments.

Manuel Cortes, TSSA General Secretary, said: “With covid case numbers rising sharply there is a race to get people vaccinated. It is absolutely right that vulnerable groups and healthcare and care workers are first in line for vaccination. After that, we need to see essential transport staff getting the lifesaving vaccinations.

“From getting key workers to hospitals and moving vital supplies around the country, our transport key workers have kept the country moving through the pandemic. Many have lost their lives to the virus, but they bravely continue to serve during this time of crisis. Now for our vaccination programme to be successful it is essential that healthcare staff, and those receiving vaccinations, can rely on public transport to get them there.

“We must vaccinate transport workers as the next priority and I’m calling on Robin Swann and Nicola Mallon to back this important step to protect our transport network.”

Peter Macklin, GMB Regional Organiser said: “Transport workers provided and continue to provide a lifeline for all frontline workers during the current pandemic. Their dedication and selflessness has been vital in sustaining the health service and other key industries. I believe it is imperative that transport workers, along with other frontline workers, are given priority in the vaccination programme, after the vulnerable people and healthcare workers have been protected. This is necessary to allow the invaluable service they provide to be delivered effectively.

Niall McNally, SIPTU Industrial Organiser NI said: “As we face into a public health emergency over the coming month, more now than ever the support of our health care workers and their ability to get to work is paramount. Key to this will be their ability to reach their workplace in a safe environment via public transport. Public transport workers have played a central role in ensuring all frontline workers reach their workplace safely in the teeth of the pandemic, ensuring that everything from health care provision to food supply is maintained. We therefore call on the Minister for Health, Robin Swann, and the Minister for Infrastructure, Nichola Mallon, to prioritise transport workers for vaccination, once health workers and vulnerable people are protected.”


Copies of the letters are provided below:

Ms Nichola Mallon
Minister for Infrastructure

Dear Nichola Mallon,

We are writing to you on behalf of transport workers across Northern Ireland to ask that all essential transport workers are next in line for vaccination after vulnerable groups and healthcare and care workers.

Transport workers have worked right through the coronavirus pandemic, often on the front line ensuring that vital healthcare and care workers, other key workers and supplies get to their destinations. They have put their lives on the line, and many have sadly died from the virus.

As trade unions representing transport workers across rail, buses, ferries, and in engineering and support roles, we request that essential transport workers are included in the next priority order for vaccination against this deadly virus. All of these modes of transport are strategically essential to our country being able to function and it can only be safely delivered with healthy staff.

Please protect our transport networks by vaccinating essential transport staff as a priority following vulnerable people and healthcare and care staff.

Yours sincerely,

Manuel Cortes
TSSA General Secretary

Peter Macklin
GMB Regional Organiser

Niall McKay
SIPTU Industrial Organiser NI

Mr Richard Swann
Minister for Health

Dear Richard Swann,

We are writing to you on behalf of transport workers across Northern Ireland to ask that all essential transport workers are next in line for vaccination after vulnerable groups and healthcare and care workers.

Transport workers have worked right through the coronavirus pandemic, often on the front line ensuring that vital healthcare and care workers, other key workers and supplies get to their destinations. They have put their lives on the line, and many have sadly died from the virus.

As trade unions representing transport workers across rail, buses, ferries, and in engineering and support roles, we request that essential transport workers are included in the next priority order for vaccination against this deadly virus. All of these modes of transport are strategically essential to our country being able to function and it can only be safely delivered with healthy staff.

Please protect our transport networks by vaccinating essential transport staff as a priority following vulnerable people and healthcare and care staff.

Yours sincerely,

Manuel Cortes
TSSA General Secretary

Peter Macklin
GMB Regional Organiser

Niall McKay
SIPTU Industrial Organiser NI