GMB, the union for food producers, has called for the government to convene an urgent meeting with the major supermarkets and the Food & Drink Federation (FDF) after a supplier to Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Marks & Spencer admitted social distancing was impossible in its factory.
The GMB’s letter – sent to Secretary of State for DEFRA, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, M&S, Lidl and Aldi – comes after a manager at Bakkavor was secretly filmed admitting social distancing was not possible and threatening to sack staff who stayed at home during the coronavirus outbreak.
The union said it has also identified numerous employers refusing to pay essential workers full pay if they are absent due to Covid-19. The GMB highlighted that it some instances workers are only paid Statutory Sick Pay (£95.85 a week), increasing the likelihood that workers who face losing money will come into work and risk spreading the virus.
The GMB is calling for retailers, the FDF, and government to get together to agree and implement minimum industry standards to reflect the essential nature of the work being carried by food production staff.
Eamon O’Hearn, GMB National Officer, said: “Food and drink workers are essential to ensuring our supermarket shelves are stocked and our communities stay fed. GMB is working successfully with a number of employers to take a lead on standards, but too many are not meeting the challenge.
“Employers cannot put profit and production over the safety of essential workers. Now is the time for the industry to step up to the plate and do everything possible to reduce the risk of the virus impacting on essential workers in our food supply chain.”
