Meat plant workers write an open letter to bosses detailing their safety concerns

than 70 workers at a Co Tyrone meat processing plant have sent an open letter to its directors outlining their concerns over working conditions amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

The workers in Foyle Food Group’s plant in Omagh believe a temporary closure is necessary in order to carry out a deep clean of the site before production can resume.

They are also demanding that Covid-19 testing be carried out on all workers and their families as well.

The staff at Foyle Food Group’s Omagh plant also stated that once the site does reopen, appropriate personal protective equipment, sanitisation and soers cial distancing measures must be put in place.

The open letter to the directors of the company was signed by a total of 726 people, including 74 members of staff and the secretary of the Fermanagh and Omagh Socialist Party, Amy Ferguson.

It was also sent to the Health and Safety Executive and the Northern Ireland Executive Office.

“If the owners and politicians fail to act swiftly, however, we fully support the right of work more in the factory to take action themselves to defend the well-being of themselves, their families and the wider public,” read the letter.

“We understand that some workers in the factory have already walked out as a result of working conditions.”

Last week, a woman aged in her 50s, who was a member of the production staff at Moy Park’s site in Dungannon, died after she contracted the coronavirus.

There was no suggestion that the company was at fault and it said that “robust” measures were put in place to keep workers safe.

Foyle Food Group was contacted for a response.

❝ If the owners and politicians fail to act, we fully support the right of workers to take action

An open letter to the directors of Foyle Food Group, the Health & Safety Executive and the Northern Ireland Executive Office

AS members of the local community, we are deeply concerned by reports involving working conditions at the Foyle meat processing plant in Omagh, which seem to have contributed to a cluster of Covid-19 infections among the workforce.

Given that we have now seen the tragic death of a worker at Moy Park in Dungannon, it is clear that action is urgently needed.

We support the trade union demand for a temporary closure of the plant, without loss of jobs, or pay, so that a deep clean can be carried out and all staff and their families tested.

Only when this has been completed should production resume.

Appropriate PPE, sanitation and distancing measures must then be put in place in every area of the factory.

Given that Foyle Foods Group made £2.57m in profit and paid out over £1m to its directors in 2018 and that it styles itself as an industry leader, we do not believe that these measures are beyond the reach of the company.

The health of workers and the general public must come before profit.

We call on the company’s management, the Health & Safety Executive and the Northern Ireland Executive to ensure that the demands of the workers are met immediately. If the owners and politicians fail to act swiftly, however, we fully support the right of workers in the factory to take action themselves to defend the wellbeing of themselves, their families and the wider public.

We understand that some workers in the factory have already walked out as a result of working conditions.

If they feel the need to take further industrial action, they can be sure that the local community will be behind them and will assist them in whatever way possible.

AMY FERGUSON (SECRETARY, FERMANAGH & OMAGH SOCIALIST PARTY) AND 725 OTHERS