Workers scared for their health ‘We are risking our lives for a cardboard box’
FRASER WILSON
Staff at an East Kilbride packaging plant say they are ‘being asked to risk their lives for a cardboard box’.
Workers at Westrock Packaging remain at work during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite concerns for their safety.
That sees them continue with their usual 12-hour shifts, yet staff do not consider themselves to be key workers.
Now staff are demanding management rethink their approach to things.
One worker, who wishes not to be named, told us that some social distancing measures were in place, but not enough.
A staff member of three decades, he said: “To be honest, you’d be lucky if we were two feet apart, never mind two metres.
“We work the machines together, we’re in the changing room together, and all for a duty free packaging box.”
The company, which has over 200 workers, produce packaging for drinks companies whose staff themselves have been deemed as ‘key workers’ as they work to produce much-needed hand sanitisers.
But work at the Leesburn Place site in East Kilbride continues for the production of whisky packaging and has nothing to do with packaging for hand sanitiser.
The News understands that workers have been told to sit one to a table in the site canteen and that doors are regularly sanitised.
“But there are external contractors coming in all the time,” our source said. “TNT drivers are coming in every day.
“We’re scared to talk. Moreover, we’re scared for our health.
“We certainly don’t get paid to be essential workers, and all the managers are at home isolating. It’s the workers that are in.”
It is believed an area manager from Newcastle circulated the news to staff that they would remain at work, despite government demands for all non-essential workers to work from home.
We were told the news came from this manager, because the on-site general manager and wife (who also works for the company) are in isolation.
A spokesman for Westrock said the company was playing an important role in helping customers ensure the “products our families, friends and communities need are getting on store shelves”.
He added: “There is nothing more important than the health and safety of our employees.
“The importance of practicing safe behaviours has been communicated at all levels of the organisation, and we will continue to reinforce this message at every opportunity.
“Our manufacturing operations are deemed essential by multiple government organisations around the world.
“We have introduced numerous measures to protect the welfare of employees including social distancing, additional hand washing stations and PPE.
“The packaging sector is vital for the retail supply chain and nearly all the manufacturing facilities of all key drinks producers remain operational.”
Further guidance from the Scottish Government for employers was published last Thursday.
That said staff are considered key if they are essential to the health and welfare of the country; have been repurposed to support essential services; are fully consistent with established social distancing advice; and where wider public health or other considerations apply.
Part of those guidelines requires a facility or service to operate for a specific period of time for a safe shutdown.
Linda Fabiani MSP told us: “I acknowledge the very acute challenges faced by businesses and I am grateful to the very many companies being responsible by actively supporting homeworking and allowing staff the time off for isolation.
“Unfortunately, a number of businesses in our area are not observing the guidelines. It is for businesses themselves to make decisions about what is essential work – it should not be up to employees to decide whether or not to go into work.
“I have been dealing with a high volume of enquiries from constituents concerned about their working arrangements and I have been advising as best as I can, however companies must ensure their employees safety is their number one priority.”
Senior Unite shop-steward, Jim Fisher, said: “Unite and Westrock management are working together at the site and observing all the COVID-19 government safety guidance.
“Those working on the shop floor understand the products the site produces play a vital part within a major industry in Scotland and they are fully committed to continuing to support all efforts to keep Scottish industry working.”