Labour MP calls for debate over Greencore's handling of worker pay after Northampton Covid outbreak

A Labour MP has called for a motion over how Northampton's Greencore factory has handled employee pay in the wake of a Covid-19 outbreak last month.

MP for Brent Central Dawn Butler tabled a motion at Parliament yesterday (September 10) to criticize the sandwich packing plant for paying staff "below the living wage" through its furlough and sick pay.

She also criticised the factory for resuming production less than a week after it voluntarily closed at the request of Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

The motion is calling for Greencore to provide staff with 100 per cent pay during self-isolation periods.

The Greencore factory in Moulton Park, which employs more than 2,100 people, reported an outbreak of more than 290 cases of coronavirus in August, leading to hundreds of staff being put on furlough or SSP.

In August, the factory also brought forward its Christmas scheme and handed out £400 cash payments to workers.

The early day motion tabled by Mrs Butler said Greencore's handling of the outbreak and pay had "caused extreme hardship to many staff members and their families forcing them to turn to food banks".

At time of writing (September 11), the motion has so far only been signed by former shadow chancellor of the exchequer John McDonnell.

A spokesperson for Greencore said: “All colleagues who have been required to self-isolate during the months of August and September at our Northampton site and are contractually on Statutory Sick Pay are receiving 80% of their basic pay. We have implemented this in recognition of the financial impact that those on SSP are facing

"This follows on from a recent bonus which averaged £260 per colleague and was paid to all weekly paid front-line staff in order to recognise their huge contribution while lockdown was in place.

"Having temporarily ceased production on 21 August to undertake a thorough deep-cleaning process, the site subsequently reopened with the full support of the Department of Health & Social Care, Public Health England and other government bodies.”