MORE than two million people have signed a petition in support of railway worker Belly Mujinga, who died from Covid-19 in April. 

Shortly before her death, Ms Mujinga, who worked for Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) at Victoria station in London, was redeployed from the ticket office despite having a respiratory condition.

It was while working on the concourse up close to the travelling public that she was spat upon by a male passenger.

British Transport Police interviewed a 57-year-old but decided that the incident had not led to Ms Mujinga’s death.

The petition set up by her family calls for protections and support for GTR workers. 

Today, rail union TSSA described the number of signatures as “incredible” and said that it showed how “Belly’s tragic death touched the nation.”

But general secretary Manuel Cortes said that “serious questions” remain about the events leading up to Ms Mujinga’s death, including why her employer had decided that she should work directly with passengers.

“Belly’s story has helped highlight the risk of Covid-19 to BAME and other transport workers,” he said.

“Our union is continuing to push hard for risk assessments to take into account the ethnic background of workers, so that proper protections can be put in place.”