NSW freight workers and other essential logistics staff are now in line for urgent access to Covid-19 vaccinations, says Road Freight NSW (RFNSW).
The peak body has advocated on behalf of transport staff working in Sydney Covid ‘hot-spots’ and other high-risk environments throughout the latest outbreak of the virus.
RFNSW chief executive, Simon O’Hara, labelled the news “a great win for our industry”.
“RFNSW has long argued that truckies and other freight and logistics workers needed to be protected, if they were expected to continue working around the clock throughout the pandemic.
“We’ve also been concerned that mandatory surveillance testing means that our members are lining-up for Covid tests every three days, putting them at greater risk of exposure, in areas of south west and western Sydney where the virus is spreading so quickly.
“That’s why providing these frontline workers with immediate access to the vaccination roll-out is a common-sense decision which will protect the health and wellbeing of an essential workforce.
“The fact is, we simply cannot afford to compromise the safety of truckies and risk any disruptions in the delivery of essential food, groceries and medicines to the community through local supply chains.”
O’Hara said RFNSW will continue to work with state and federal governments to provide members with further updates on vaccination access.