Unions: Give transit crew hazard pay

The city Transport Workers Union, after losing 84 members to COVID-19, called Friday for mass transit workers to receive hazard pay as part of its 10-part plan to make mass transit safer for passengers and workers.

The “Transit Plan for a Reopened New York” also called for a requirement that all subway and bus riders wear facial coverings and for 24hour “humane removal” of the homeless from mass transit — with referral to the necessary services.

“You can’t expect transit workers to keep coming to work without first recognizing the sacrifices they have made, the day-to-day conditions they have labored under, and the risks they continue to face in public service,” said a joint statement from Tony Utano, TWU Local 100 president, and John Samuelson, president of the Transport Workers Union of America.

“Thanks and praise are welcome, but simply are not enough.”

Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman Pat Foye, in a Friday morning radio appearance, made it clear that safety was priority No. 1 in any mass transit proposal going forward.

“It will be a multi-layered plan, but it will start with masks for all employees and commuters,” Foye said on WOR-AM. “We’re looking into a number of things, like limiting the number of people on a subway car and train stations. We’re still coming up with a plan.”

The union echoed the call for masks on all workers and riders, while additionally advocating a “no mask, no work” policy, large-scale coronavirus testing and tracing of transit workers and protective shields completely separating bus drivers from riders, among other things.

“New York State is starting to ease some pandemic restrictions,” the union leaders said. “The MTA is making plans to increase bus and subway service. The danger of infection remains, and there is a grave concern about the possible second wave of infections in the fall.”