Workers Memorial Day: COVID, London bus drivers & Boris Johnson. Not forgotten

Workers Memorial Day: COVID, London bus drivers & Boris Johnson. Not forgotten

There is a plaque at Braham St in East London to all the London Transport workers who died during the pandemic period.

There is unfinished business here on Workers Memorial Day

Whether or not Boris Johnson did say ‘let the bodies pile up’ before the third national lockdown, this was sadly and disgracefully exactly what happened.

One area was that of London bus drivers who helped keep essential matters running in the Capital during the pandemic.

It was established during the first wave of COVID-19 in the spring and early summer of 2020 that the disease had a differential impact depending on class and ethnicity.

There were more infections and sadly more deaths amongst ethnic minorities. This was briefly highlighted and was occasionally referenced by ONS studies but of course nothing was done by the Johnson Government.

It appears that some ethnic groups are more susceptible to COVID than others but there are many other factors in the mix including social class, occupation, geography and so on.

In 2021 the matter was highlighted again. Unite the Union which represents London bus drivers noted Transport for London figures that 54(October 2021) London bus drivers had died of COVID-19.

Bus driving in London where many key workers use the bus to get to work in London is an occupation where bus drivers in a cab for a lengthy period were more likely than many to be exposed to COVID-19.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-56455845

It’s worth keeping in mind that the Government did nothing on raising sick pay to a level where lower paid workers could actually afford to self-isolate and eat. It then cut Universal Credit benefits.

The average salary for a London bus driver varies depending on hours worked but it is a bit above the average wage at around £30K, perhaps about or a little below the London average wage.

Many London workers from supermarket employees to cleaners and security guards earn less. They will often live in shared housing and need to earn a living come what may.

These are the people Boris Johnson didn’t know existed.

Not only they but that reality must be remembered on Workers Memorial Day 2024. And acted on.