Thessaloniki: A 58-year-old employee of OASTH died of a coronavirus
The Democratic Struggle Cooperation OASTH (DAS OASTH) is urgently requesting measures for the protection from the coronavirus, on the occasion of the death of a 58-year-old employee of the Thessaloniki Public Transport Organization from the coronavirus.
In a statement, DAS OASTH underlines, among other things, that “public transport has remained unfortified with health protocols (bus occupancy at 85%) which do not meet effective measures to prevent and protect public health” and speaks of “shortcomings in means and staff, with long delays in itineraries, and the huge schedule at peak hours “.
In detail, the announcement states:
New death of an OASTH employee from covid-19
Shortly before leaving in 2021, the employees of OASTH are counting another loss of a colleague due to covid, the eighth in a row. 58 years old.
It is known that the main areas of spread of the coronavirus are large workplaces, schools, etc. and among them the means of public transport that have remained unsecured with health protocols (bus fullness at 85%) which do not respond to effective measures of prevention and protection of public health. Simultaneously with the above, the government is constantly changing the medical protocols for contact with cases, reducing the time for quarantine and multiplying the risks of transmission.
Unfortunately, the well-known daily situation in OASTH is repeated and is tragic with lack of means and staff, with long delays in the itineraries, and the huge schedule during peak hours.
In all of this, the management of OASTH “sets traps” for its employees by imposing illegal additions of hundreds and thousands of euros for rapid tests and extermination sentences for “flea jump”.
Even high-protection masks are paid for by workers out of pocket until and when labyrinthine procurement tenders are conducted. All she cares about is starting the fare collection safari. So with homemade constructions on the driver’s door – which are also dangerous and have no type approval from any body – he wants to open the front door of the buses while he has already instructed the bearer inspectors to check inside the buses with the risks involved.
Administration and government hide their responsibilities behind the “individual responsibility” and the irrationality they have cultivated.
Now measures to protect the people from the pandemic
• Massive and repetitive free tests for all employees
• Organization of epidemiological surveillance and effective tracking in the workplace under the responsibility of the state.
• Provision of special purpose permits to those employees who test positive, ill, quarantined and those who have to supervise young children or the elderly, at the expense of the state and the employer.
• Measures for regular and safe routes in public transport, with recruitment of staff, ordering of buses, thickening of routes and strict observance of health protocols.