Work Safe

With the highly contagious COVID-19 Omicron variant still spreading, wearing a proper mask is now more important than ever to protect our families, communities, and coworkers from spreading and contracting this devastating virus. On January 14, 2022, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its COVID-19 mask guidance. Importantly, this guidance acknowledges that our members as transit workers are among those who should consider wearing respirators (i.e., N95, KN95, or KF94 masks) at work to better protect themselves instead of cloth or surgical masks. Respirators like N95 masks along with KN95 and KF94 masks are more protective against COVID-19 than other types of masks are. Your Local Union can take the CDC's guidance regarding bus operators to your employers as part of a bargaining demand to provide respirators to your members. Employers should also test a respirator's fit on each worker who will wear one and should ensure that the respirator fits tightly for all workers.

As transit workers continue to provide the essential services that our communities need to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and to meet their essential needs, we are suffering some of the pandemic’s biggest casualties. Not one more transit worker should die because our transit systems are refusing to implement necessary safety precautions.

When your Local Union is ready and working with ATU organizers, the success of any campaign will rely on you and your coworkers sticking together, using your rights, and engaging in safe and disciplined action as one unified Local.

Air in buses recycles in the cabin and then flows to the front carrying bacteria and viruses with it.

The scientific evidence is clear that people are contracting COVID-19 by breathing air with tiny infectious particles. This “aerosol transmission” of SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes COVID-19, is a particular danger for workers such as bus operators because we work for extended periods of time in enclosed spaces with other people breathing recirculated and poorly filtered air.

The ATU has released the linked set of guidelines for Paratransit Operators covering: PPE, Vehicle Minimum Specifications, Dispatching, Vehicle Operation, Working with Passengers and Post Trip Procedures.

The ATU has prepared the attached guidelines for Safe School Bus operations during the COVID-19 Pandemic. The linked checklists regarding safety procedures on the bus, vehicle cleaning and disinfection, and necessary PPE for school bus workers should be required in any school or school bus transportation reopening plan. 

Please click on the link to learn more about: Worker Wellness, Local Union Input, Public and Health and Safety on the Job.

Please click on the link to learn more about: Frontline Worker PPE and Vehicle Cleaner PPE. 

Please click on the link to learn more about: Frontline Worker PPE and Vehicle Cleaner PPE.

Please click on the link to learn more about: Limit the Spread of Infected Vehicles, Rear Door Boarding, Air Quality and Emergency Removal from Service.