MTR union threatens strike over border row

Railway Power representatives hand in a petition letter to the MTR Corporation, hoping the firm will push the government to seal the border with the mainland. Photo: RTHK

A new MTR labour union said it may go on strike if the rail company does not urge the government to completely close off Hong Kong's border with the mainland to non-residents to contain the new coronavirus epidemic.



Representatives of Railway Power, which has around 500 members who work for the metro operator, handed in a petition letter to the MTR Corporation's headquarters in Kowloon Bay on Wednesday.



They said they were very concerned about the safety of passengers and staff, as a significant number of inbound travellers use MTR services at Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau stations.



The union's chairman, Michael Chan, also pointed out that there are insufficient face masks and eye protection for frontline staff.



He gave his company a day to respond to their demands or face industrial action.



"We have some meeting for the committee to find any ways to... maybe strike, maybe any other industrial action," he said.



Another newly-formed union representing Hospital Authority staff were also pressing the government to ban travellers from crossing into the city through the border with the mainland.