Brampton bus-drivers’ union against continued use of medical-grade mask
Published September 20, 2021 at 2:33 pm
Against the advice of Peel Public Health, officials from the union for Brampton transit employees continue to fight for looser restrictions on COVID-19 protection.
Frank Vani, the president of local 1573 of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) spoke against a vaccine mandate during the City of Brampton’s emergency meeting on the topic on Sept. 1.
And the union now says bus drivers should be allowed to choose a mask they’re comfortable wearing, rather than the medical-grade one that is the current standard, and one a city report says should remain.
The information is contained in a City staff report that will be presented at Wednesday’s Committee of Council meeting.
A medical-grade mask is one that protects the user from any COVID-19 transmission, while most cloth and disposable masks are mainly there for the protection of others.
The decision to mandate the use of a medical-grade mask occurred on Mar. 21, 2021, following a suspected outbreak on Mar. 1.
Videos
The union, when discussing this topic for the report, proposes operators be permitted to select they type of masks they wear when behind the on-board safety shield. They would switch to a medical-grade mask when dealing with the public.
However, Peel Public Health contends continual switching of masks increases the likelihood of contamination and the on-board shield is not enough protection.
The report, which is in response to a council decision on Aug. 11 asking staff to make a recommendation on masking and transit workers, recommends the continued use of medical-grade masks for local bus drivers.
insauga's Editorial Standards and Policies advertising