Union GMB calls for temporary closure of Bakkavor Kent factory after worker dies with Covid-19

Bakkavor provides ready meals, sandwiches, desserts and salads to supermarkets including Waitrose, M&S and Tesco

Bakkavor provides ready meals, sandwiches, desserts and salads to supermarkets including Waitrose, M&S and Tesco

1 December 2020

GMB today called for the temporary closure of supermarket sandwich-supplier Bakkavor's factory in Kent following the death of a worker who tested positive for Covid-19.

The trade union said that 79 workers at the Bakkavor/Tilmanstone Salads facility tested positive for Covid in November, with nearly 100 instructed to self-isolate.

Organisers are now calling for the factory to be shut down for a deep clean and mass testing of all staff.

GMB rep Frank Macklin said: "We have now seen the virus sweep through the factory at an alarming rate in just over four weeks. Sadly, the Bakkavor factory has now suffered a covid-19 related fatality.

"GMB has requested the facility close to allow mass testing of employees and a deep clean of the factory.

“Once this has been done, the factory can re-open with staff returning safe in the knowledge every step has been taken to ensure they are working in the safest possible environment."

Macklin said the union 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".

It is not the first outbreak Bakkavor - which makes sandwiches, ready meals, salads and desserts for major supermarket chains including M&S, Waitrose and Tesco - has seen in its factories. In August it announced all staff at its Newark dessert factory would be tested following more than 70 positive cases. Staff had told local media that social distancing was not being followed at the plant.

The company the headlines in April when its head of operations was filmed telling employees in north London that they faced losing their jobs if they missed work during the pandemic. At the time, a Bakkavor spokesman apologised to staff for "any miscommunication" and said: "We are investigating the matter."

The company told the Standard on Tuesday that there is currently "no evidence" that the deceased worker contracted Covid-19 inside the factory.

It said that the company is working with Public Health England, that deep cleaning is already taking place every night at the factory in question, that the factory also undergoes a twice weekly virucidal clean, and that touch points are also disinfected throughout all shifts including offices, ancillary areas and workshops.

The company, which confirmed that 70 workers are currently off work isolating after testing positive, with a further 69 self-isolating, said that it is running its own internal track and trace process.

It said: "The health and safety of our colleagues has and always will be our foremost priority.

"Sadly, one of our colleagues at Bakkavor Salads Tilmanstone has recently passed away after contracting COVID-19. At this early point in the investigation there is no evidence that this case was contracted in the workplace.

"We have stringent safety controls in place, we brief colleagues on travelling safely to and from work and stress to all our colleagues to be equally careful outside of work to control the transmission of the virus.

"With this recent rise in cases, we have been re-briefing staff on the workplace controls that need to be followed and also of the importance of taking personal responsibility in following all the Covid guidelines outside the workplace. We also have Covid Marshalls in the business that manage adherence to strict workplace procedures and monitor safety for those car sharing, where we issue face masks."

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Union GMB calls for temporary closure of Bakkavor Kent factory after worker dies with Covid-19

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