Workers at Covid-hit chicken factory to receive full pay

Workers at a coronavirus-hit chicken factory are to receive full pay during the plant’s shutdown, a union has confirmed.

On Tuesday, Unite Scotland said it welcomed the move following “constructive talks” with bosses at the 2 Sisters processing plant in Coupar Angus, Perthshire.

Last Monday, the factory suspended operations following a cluster of nine positive Covid-19 cases.

One week on, the outbreak has risen to 152. A total of 134 workers have tested positive, as well as 18 community contacts.

NHS Tayside launched an investigation into what First Minister Nicola Sturgeon described as a “significant cluster” and its Incident Management Team later ordered all workers, along with their households, to self-isolate until August 31 in an effort to “prevent further spread of the infection in the community”.

The factory is set to reopen at the end of the quarantine period.

Unite said it supported the decision to close the factory on health and safety grounds, but added that workers “deserved better than to be left waiting for over seven days to find out if they would receive wages at an already stressful time”.

Susan Robertson, Unite regional officer, said: “Unite welcomes the decision by 2 Sisters to agree that all workers receive full pay during the self-isolation period.

“The workforce should not suffer any financial detriment bearing in mind their family members have had to self-isolate as well.

“It’s an imperative that this factory opens as soon as possible to ensure its long-term sustainability and Unite will work with 2 Sisters to ensure that the workplace is safe for when the workers return.”