The president of the union representing most workers at a Regina laundry facility expects the number of COVID-19 cases to rise among staff.
FORMERLY ALBERTA HOSPITALS PUBLIC LAUNDRY SERVICES
PRIVATIZED UNDER KLEIN NOW THE LARGEST HOSPITAL LAUNDRY SERVICE IN NORTH AMERICA
EVEN THE ORACLE OF OMAHA WARREN BUFFETS BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY IS INVESTED IN IT
UNDERPAID NEW CANADIANS, MIGRANTS AND TEMP WORKERS ARE CLEANING HOSPITAL LAUNDRY IN COVID-19 CONDITIONS, LIKE THE MEAT PACKING INDUSTRY!!!
Author of the article:Ashley Martin • Regina Leader-Post
Publishing date:Aug 10, 2020 •
An employee pictured working at K-Bro Linens in Regina in 2016. DON HEALY / Regina Leader-Post
The president of the union that represents most workers at a Regina laundry facility expects the number of COVID-19 cases among employees will rise.
“I believe there’s probably going to be more than that,” said Norm Neault, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union local 1400, which counts among its members the majority of K-Bro Linen Systems staff in Regina.
Neault made that prediction Monday morning, when he was only aware of a handful of positive cases.
Late Monday afternoon, the Ministry of Health issued a news release that 18 employees have now tested positive for COVID-19.
On Saturday, all 11 new cases reported in Regina were among K-Bro employees or their close contacts. Most of the cases were identified through contact tracing, although some came through calls to Healthline 811.
In addition to 141 unionized members, Neault said there are 20-some non-unionized employees at the Regina shop.
Jackie Belanger, general manager of the Regina facility, said there are approximately 70 people working per shift.
The president of the union that represents most workers at a Regina laundry facility expects the number of COVID-19 cases among employees will rise.
“I believe there’s probably going to be more than that,” said Norm Neault, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union local 1400, which counts among its members the majority of K-Bro Linen Systems staff in Regina.
Neault made that prediction Monday morning, when he was only aware of a handful of positive cases.
Late Monday afternoon, the Ministry of Health issued a news release that 18 employees have now tested positive for COVID-19.
On Saturday, all 11 new cases reported in Regina were among K-Bro employees or their close contacts. Most of the cases were identified through contact tracing, although some came through calls to Healthline 811.
In addition to 141 unionized members, Neault said there are 20-some non-unionized employees at the Regina shop.
Jackie Belanger, general manager of the Regina facility, said there are approximately 70 people working per shift.
K-Bro Linen Systems is pictured in Regina on Monday, Aug. 10, 2020. There was widespread COVID-19 testing last week at the facility after some workers tested positive for the virus. TROY FLEECE/Regina Leader-Post
On Friday, Ministry of Health stated in an emailed news release that “a number of employees” at K-Bro Regina had tested positive.
Neault said two or three employees had initially tested positive. By Friday, all staff had been tested — most on site.
“Every employee has been tested and anyone who has tested positive and anyone who was in close contact with them is in self-isolation,” said Belanger.
About 30 employees did not come to work on Monday, according to the union.
Regina’s COVID-19 case numbers have climbed in the past week. On Aug. 3, there were seven active cases; a week later, on Monday, Aug. 10, there were 30 active cases reported.
As precautions during COVID-19, Neault said employees have been wearing masks and gloves, and physically distancing between workstations. Break times have been staggered. Employees take a screening questionnaire, and temperatures are checked before entering the facility.
Belanger said employees’ health and safety is the “highest priority,” and prior to the pandemic K-Bro had higher-than-standard health and safety protocols.
K-Bro is an Edmonton-based company with locales in Saskatoon, Prince Albert and other provinces. Much of the Regina facility is mechanized, said Neault, with people operating the machinery that cleans and folds linens.
The Health Ministry said a microbiologist determined there was no safety concern in regards to the linens that were processed in the facility.
This outbreak is “certainly an eye-opener for that facility, for that employer, and certainly for Regina,” said Neault. “We really have to be careful in these times and I think people let their guards down and (outbreaks) may happen.”
The UFCW also has members working at grocery stores, including the Regina Superstores at Golden Mile and Rochdale.
Even one case is “too many,” said Neault, “especially when you have facilities where you have that many people working there and how easily COVID can spread. … It’s got to be a concern to the public as well.”
Neault said UFCW negotiated sick pay in these members’ most recent contract; employees receive partial pay if they’re sick.
At this point, Neault said the company hasn’t offered and the union hasn’t asked for a wage top-up for employees who are off sick due to COVID-19.
amartin@postmedia.com
On Friday, Ministry of Health stated in an emailed news release that “a number of employees” at K-Bro Regina had tested positive.
Neault said two or three employees had initially tested positive. By Friday, all staff had been tested — most on site.
“Every employee has been tested and anyone who has tested positive and anyone who was in close contact with them is in self-isolation,” said Belanger.
About 30 employees did not come to work on Monday, according to the union.
Regina’s COVID-19 case numbers have climbed in the past week. On Aug. 3, there were seven active cases; a week later, on Monday, Aug. 10, there were 30 active cases reported.
As precautions during COVID-19, Neault said employees have been wearing masks and gloves, and physically distancing between workstations. Break times have been staggered. Employees take a screening questionnaire, and temperatures are checked before entering the facility.
Belanger said employees’ health and safety is the “highest priority,” and prior to the pandemic K-Bro had higher-than-standard health and safety protocols.
K-Bro is an Edmonton-based company with locales in Saskatoon, Prince Albert and other provinces. Much of the Regina facility is mechanized, said Neault, with people operating the machinery that cleans and folds linens.
The Saskatchewan government in 2013 contracted K-Bro to provide linen service to hospitals and health facilities across the province.
The Health Ministry said a microbiologist determined there was no safety concern in regards to the linens that were processed in the facility.
This outbreak is “certainly an eye-opener for that facility, for that employer, and certainly for Regina,” said Neault. “We really have to be careful in these times and I think people let their guards down and (outbreaks) may happen.”
The UFCW also has members working at grocery stores, including the Regina Superstores at Golden Mile and Rochdale.
Even one case is “too many,” said Neault, “especially when you have facilities where you have that many people working there and how easily COVID can spread. … It’s got to be a concern to the public as well.”
Neault said UFCW negotiated sick pay in these members’ most recent contract; employees receive partial pay if they’re sick.
At this point, Neault said the company hasn’t offered and the union hasn’t asked for a wage top-up for employees who are off sick due to COVID-19.
amartin@postmedia.com
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