DRIVERS and escorts transporting disabled children in the London borough of Hackney are the “pathfinders” in a campaign to recognise workers facing Covid-19 pressures, Unite said yesterday.

The union’s national campaign seeks a one-off payment of £500, a reduction of the working week from 36 hours to 35 with no loss of earnings and an extra day’s holiday for those risking their health by working through the pandemic.

Unite regional officer Onay Kasab said: “Our 32 driver and passenger escorts employed by Hackney [council] … will be balloted for strike action later this month as the bosses have reneged on an earlier local deal which would have given them a lump sum and made agency workers permanent employees.

“Also, our Hackney members have serious concerns about Covid-19 safety measures on buses, specifically, buses with a capacity of 30 have over 20 children on them. 

“There is no social distancing and also the ‘bubbles’ that are in force in schools are broken on buses where new ‘bubbles’ are formed.

“Our members across England have shown bravery [by] putting their health at risk during the pandemic to ensure those children with disabilities were delivered and collected from school safely.”