Prasa employees without protective gear - union member
A member of the United National Transport Union (Untu) has refused to return to work amid claims of a lack of protective gear at the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa).
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that only essential workers will be permitted to work throughout the 21-day national lockdown.
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The union’s Sonja Carstens says the employee, referred to as ‘Harris’, told union representatives that Prasa had only provided essential workers with hand sanitisers.
“This is a protection services employee of the Prasa refused today to continue patrolling hot-spots together with his colleagues after they still have not received facial masks or gloves.
“Although Prasa undertook to provide them with proper PPE’s, the national shortage has been given to them as an excuse.”
She adds that Prasa had not properly prepared for the lockdown.
“’Harris’ says in the Eastern Cape the employees, who must work, have not even been given transport and must use public transport to get to work.”