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A union is demanding workers at a Covid-hit factory should get sick pay urgently claiming it is “the most important" step they can take to eradicate the spread there - while staff at the site say they are scared to go to into work.
The GMB's calls come after the death of two employees at Bakkavor's Tilmanstone Salads in Eythorne this week after testing positive.
Bakkavor, which provides salads for Marks and Spencer from the factory, responded that it is now looking introduce enhanced outbreak pay for staff, but it is doing what is economically viable.
Infection and self-isolation figures released by Bakkavor and The GMB are conflicting. But this afternoon the union claimed 99 employees have tested positive between the start of November and today.
Bakkavor has not confirmed this figure and last night said there were 65 positive cases and 68 people were self-isolating with an update due in the morning.
The spread began in November and and is now coursing its way through the factory in Millyard Way, Eythorne.
The GMB's spokesman Frank Macklin said: "Bakkavor Tilmanstone Salads had only experienced a few positive cases of Covid-19 before November, but we have now seen the virus sweep through the factory at an alarming rate in just over four weeks.
"There is an urgent need for Bakkavor Tilmanstone Salads to pay employees their full salary if they have tested positive for covid-19 or have to self-isolate. That’s the most important step they can take to eradicate this outbreak."
Today cash strapped workers told Kentonline they are "scared to go to work" but have to attend to get paid.
We heard from two employees whose identity we are protecting to safeguard their jobs.
They all feel that safety measures fell short of the required standard before and after the deaths.
One added it's "too little too late" and the union claims staff were only told to wear masks instead of visors last week.
'The situation is worsening and it genuinely feels like a hazard going to work...'
That same worker said going to work feels like "a hazard" and complained they are "increasingly concerned and frustrated" by the handling of the outbreak.
Bakkavor revealed yesterday that on site testing begins next week but the worker claimed this will be "redundant" where testing is not mandatory and is only available Monday and Tuesday.
Existing Covid measures are "ineffective" according to the worker who added: "They installed a thermometer system to pick up on high temperatures however this is placed after the canteen and smoking area, thus giving the virus the chance to spread throughout the factory before the high temperature is even picked up.
"The situation is worsening and it genuinely feels like a hazard going to work with the current inadequate measures and the too little too late nature of the management.
"I'm currently employed by the agency, meaning that there is no sick pay if I was to have to isolate or indeed caught the virus."
Another employee said: "I'm honestly scared to go to work at the moment, but if I don’t I won’t have money to live.
"They had a “good deep clean” yesterday (for four to five hours).
"We were asked to come in two hours later so a company could spray disinfecting mist all over the communal eating areas.
"I think they should be shutting down for a while but instead they are mass testing us all on Monday and Tuesday next week so I imagine we will end up shutting once half the work force is asked to self-isolate.
"We’ve also been briefed to not enter into any media discussions about the situation which I think just caused panic because it leads us to believe there is something to worry about."
"I still don’t think it’s enough. It will be very interesting to see how many people test positive - I imagine there are lots of people carrying it without symptoms."
"I’m sure there definitely is a real possibility that it has spread through the food especially since we were only wearing face visors not masks for a good five months before they switched to face masks last week."
Mr Macklin added: "GMB has already requested the factory close to allow mass testing of employees and a deep clean of its factory.
“The company has enlisted an independent company to clean the facility - but the process only took a few hours and the factory remained open. This is clearly not good enough.
“GMB has lodged a formal collective grievance on behalf of our members, as we believe the health and safety of our members has been seriously compromised at the factory.”
A Bakkavor spokesman said: "Bakkavor’s focus is on the safety of its people and within this securing jobs at a critical time when Kent is in tier 3 lockdown.
"Bakkavor is doing what is economically viable. We are looking introduce enhanced outbreak pay for staff and we will share details on this in the coming days after we have spoken with our staff.”
"The official case numbers are as in the Bakkavor statement shared yesterday.
"There will be an update statement being issued on numbers tomorrow."
Trish Mannes, deputy director for health protection at PHE South East, said they can not pinpoint a single source of the infection of those who died as Covid is circulating in the wider community.
She said: “Following an outbreak among workers at a site belonging to Bakkavor food manufacturing company in Kent, we have been providing advice and support to the company. We are saddened to hear of the death of another member of staff and would like to express our condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the person who has died.
“PHE has been monitoring cases at the site since late October and has advised the company on public health measures to try and help prevent the spread of the virus. We are satisfied that the organisation is working hard to implement COVID-19 secure measures in their workplace and we will continue to provide support through this period.
“As Covid-19 is circulating in the wider community it has not been possible to identify any single source and we know with similar outbreaks that transmission in the community as well as at the workplace plays an important role. As a result of this and the high numbers, PHE and Kent County Council are working with Bakkavor to carry out testing among staff.
“Kent is currently in tier 3 which means the highest level of restrictions apply to the region which are designed to help reduce the spread of the virus. While the number of cases remain high, it’s important that everyone plays their part and adheres to social distancing measures, washes their hands regularly and wears a mask as per national guidance.”
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