Turkish postal employees worried about the lack of basic coronavirus precautions at workplace
Employees of Turkey's postal services (PTT) urged the management to take the necessary precautions against the coronavirus which have been lacking so far. Turkish Postal Employees Union (Haber Sen) said that most of the PTT branches have not been disinfected, and personnel do not have access to basic-level items such disinfectant lotion, gloves and masks.
Duvar English
Turkish Postal Employees Union (Haber Sen) conducted a press conference in front of a postal distribution center in central Istanbul on Thursday, where they expressed their concern that the management of Turkey's post-office (PTT) was not taking the proper precautions against coronavirus.
“Most of our workplaces have not been disinfected, and personnel do not have access to basic-level items such disinfectant lotion, gloves and masks. In spite of all of these insufficiencies, personnel are still expected to work at places where hygiene is a problem. As PTT employees, we are very worried about our own health and the health and safety of the public!” the union said in its statement.
According to the union, one PTT employee tested positive for the virus while others has been quarantined as a result.
Haber Sen listed eleven demands, which included that customers be provided with disinfectant at the entrances of PTT locations, that non-emergency deliveries be suspended, restrooms be regularly disinfected, employees not be pressured regarding their daily delivery load, and that postal carriers receive rotated administrative leave. PTT locations are also used by many people to pay their utility bills, which results in large crowds and long wait times at the post offices. The union requested that such non-emergency transactions be suspended.