WORKERS at a Greencore sandwich factory have lodged a grievance against the company after its boss tested positive for coronavirus but did not tell the workforce.

The BFAWU union, which represents staff at the Northampton factory, said that managers had been told but everyone else had been kept in the dark.

Branch president Andrew Williams said the incident had caused “unnecessary stress” for workers.

He said: “They are unhappy the company has only informed management to take a test and not production staff.”

The Bakers, Food and Allied Workers’ Union said it has been lobbying hard over workplace safety and was supporting members working under extreme conditions during the pandemic without basic health and safety protection.

BFAWU regional officer George Atwall said: “We are challenging employers who continue to ignore Public Health England and government guidance.

“However, we are concerned whether a criminally underfunded enforcement authority, the Health & Safety Executive, holds the resources necessary to act when employers’ failings are brought to their attention.

“That is why BFAWU organisation and the work of our safety representatives is crucial in challenging employers to establish safe ways of working.

“Now it’s time for Greencore to give key food workers a proper ‘thank-you.’ And that means getting money into their pockets now.

“It is absolutely wrong that many of the Greencore Food heroes in the battle against coronavirus are on poverty pay.”

Greencore confirmed that a member of staff at its Northampton site tested positive for coronavirus, adding that it immediately traced everyone who recently had contact with them.