Union claims transport workers forced to work while infected with COVID-19

There are shock claims transport workers are being forced to drive trucks and buses while infected with COVID-19.

It comes after more than two thousand workers in freight, logistics, distribution centres, passenger transport, waste, food delivery and aviation completed a survey.

Watch the video above for more on these shocking COVID claims

It found that many people are being pressured to keep working despite having symptoms for the virus and close contacts are being told not to get tested so they can continue working.

The Transport Workers Union (TWU), which conducted the survey, said other concerning themes included management failing to inform staff they’d worked with positive colleagues and infected casual workers completing shifts as they aren’t eligible for sick leave.

TWU National Assistant Secretary Nick McIntosh described the survey results as “truly shocking stuff” and said he had heard “horrific stories’ from people working during the Omicron outbreak.

“Bus drivers carrying kids, elderly parents and the most vulnerable in our community are being told to work while they’re dizzy and fatigued,” he claimed on Sunrise.

“Truck drivers who share cabins for 12 hours at a time with other drivers are not being told the person they’re taking over from has had COVID.

“There’s no deep clean on the cab.

“Workers are being told across supply chains not to worry about isolation and not to worry about testing because they’ve just got to get the job done.”

Under pandemic rules in all states and territories apart from WA, workers who test positive must isolate for one week after their test.

Close contact must also isolate for seven days and return a negative test on day six.

Mr McIntosh said TWU wants the government to crack down on dodgy bosses, provide paid leave for workers to get booster jabs and to make rapid antigen tests free and accessible .

“The great tragedy of all of this is that it was entirely preventable, the government was warned last year that we needed rapid tests to keep supply chains moving in the event of another wave,” he said.

“There are many employers who really want to do the right thing, but they don’t have access to rapid tests to properly test their staff.”