Workers who need to self-isolate at a Banham Poultry factory in Attleborough, Norfolk, where 75 staff have tested positive for coronavirus, must receive better sick pay, the union Unite has said.
Unite has a number of members at the site but is not recognised by the company, said the factory should increase sick pay from the statutory minimum of £95.85 a week that its workers currently receive.
2 Sisters, which closed its Coupar Angus processing plant in Scotland last week has announced all its staff will receive full pay while the plant is closed.
Banham Poultry’s parent company, Chesterfield Poultry, turned over more than £120 million in the year ending June 2019, making gross profits of more than £32 million.
Unite regional officer Miles Hubbard said “Banham is owned by Chesterfield Poultry, which as a multimillion-pound firm can clearly afford to top up the statutory sick pay of £95.85 a week that its low paid workers are expected to live on if they need to self-isolate.”
Banham Poultry has been approached for comment. Yesterday it closed its cutting room as cases continued to rise, but the rest of the site remains open.