Unacceptable Conditions Put Workers and Society at Risk at Poultry PlantsHealth Authorities have ordered two chicken processing plants in Metro Vancouver to temporarily close following outbreaks of COVID-19 at the workplaces. On April 20 Vancouver Coastal Health ordered United Poultry, located in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, to close down operations after 28 workers tested positive for COVID-19. Public health officials tested all 71 workers on shift after one worker, who had been working while symptomatic, tested positive. BC provincial health officers announced that contacts of the affected workers would also be tested. Dr. Patricia Daly with Vancouver Coastal Health said that while there was evidence that employees did have access to gloves and "some" plastic face coverings, that the plans that were in place were inadequate or not properly executed. Other workers were home sick on the day of the testing and will be tested. On April 24 the Fraser Health Authority ordered the closure of Superior Poultry Processors in Coquitlam after two workers tested positive for the virus. On April 27 the Health Authority reported that 25 workers had tested positive and that 236 workers at the plant have been tested, as well as 73 of their close contacts. Although the two facilities are managed separately, media reports refer to them as "sister plants." Clifford Pollon is listed in corporate records as a director of both these poultry processing operations, as well as another in Vancouver and one in Langley. Several workers hold down jobs at both the affected plants. It is believed that an infected worker transmitted the virus from one plant to the other.
The treatment of workers during the COVID-19 pandemic highlights that companies large and small consider workers expendable. They are driven solely to maximize profits. Despite shedding crocodile tears to the contrary, neo-liberal governments are unwilling to enact legislation which protects the health and safety of workers. Premier John Horgan was quoted by CTV News on April 22 as saying that "Workers were coming to work because they were fearful that they would lose wages and not be able to meet their expenses [...] It's irresponsible." This is a shameless attack on the workers and beneath contempt. The remarks of Chief Health Officer Bonnie Henry, quoted in the same report, that "Let me be 100 per cent clear [...] stay home, stay away from others, and immediately contact [health authorities] [...] We do not penalize employees for staying home if they are ill during this pandemic," show how out of touch authorities are with the lived reality of workers who subsist from paycheque to paycheque, can't pay rent or buy food if they are off work without pay, and live in fear of losing their jobs. It is not the workers who are irresponsible. It is employers who dictate working conditions without regard to the health and safety of workers, their families and the society, and governments which fail to enforce any health and safety standards to protect workers and society. In the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, as a bare minimum, governments should ensure that workers who are feeling unwell can self-isolate with full pay and full job protection.
As long as working people lack decision-making power and are told to wait until the next election and vote for a party that makes promises to improve their conditions, this problem will persist. Regardless of which of the cartel parties comes to power, working people will remain on the receiving end of the anti-social offensive. The current crisis shows even more that workers have to fight in a manner that empowers them. If not, the crisis will continue to be sorted out on their backs. It is important for the organized working class to speak out for the unorganized workers and for workers' forums to smash the silence on their treatment, living and working conditions. This much can be achieved and must be achieved in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photos: WF, United Workers)
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Kim Novak,
President of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1518, stated that
workers at United Poultry are not unionized. Provincial labour
standards legislation prohibits companies from firing workers who book
off sick but there is no law providing for paid sick leave. Large
processors such as Lilydale and Sunrise Farms, which are unionized, are
bound by collective agreements to pay sick leave. Provincial
HealthOofficer Bonnie Henry has urged workers to stay home if feeling
ill, even for minor colds. However Novak stated that workers without
guaranteed paid leave sometimes report for work sick because they are
fearful that losing wages will leave them unable to pay living expenses
for themselves and their families. There is also tremendous pressure on
workers who fear losing their jobs if they fail to report for work,
even when ill.
Workers need to
establish their defence organizations with health and safety committees
at every work place. Workers in unorganized workplaces do not have the
collective strength and support to say 