Bulgarian workers/Keelings - read OP (threadbans listed)

weldoninhio · 17-04-2020 08:10AM

bubblypop wrote: »

Lol, strawberries grow anywhere!
Farmers may grow them in houses, but they will grow anywhere

Where are Keelings strawberry fields?? They grow them in glasshouses.

17-04-2020 08:11AM

Gynoid wrote: »

This is a laugh. You would swear most people are only finding out for the very first time that all their fruit and vegetables are not harvested by lovely Margaret and handsome hard working Benjy from the village over the way.
You know that wine everyone loves, the really good stuff from renowned valleys in France...ye better sit down before I tell you who has been picking the grapes these past many decades.

Our system of cheap produce in supermarkets is built on the backs of migrant labour. In some cases slave labour. Yes even in Europe!

whisky_galore · 17-04-2020 08:11AM

Mr.S wrote: »

They are also a business driven by making profit

It would be a piss poor business that was looking to make a loss, or break even.

17-04-2020 08:11AM

olestoepoke wrote: »

Thats fair enough but were they tested for the virus or lockdown for 14 days when they got here? It was a reckless thing to do given the situation.

The correct thing to do would have been to have them isolate in Bulgaria for 2 weeks before being crammed onto a plane, walked through Dublin airport grouped together, crowded onto a bus to bring them to Keelings and then placed in quarantine.

What happens if one of the workers had covid19 before they departed. That’s a possible 189 workers being infected in and around the same time (1 infects 2, those 2 infect 4). What sort of strain would that put on the health services?

17-04-2020 08:11AM

stoneill wrote: »

It simples.
Keelings needed workers, couldn't get them here, got them elsewhere.

Because they don't pay an appropriate wage.

It's no coincidence that they've plucked the workers from the country with the lowest minimum wage in the EU.

is_that_so · 17-04-2020 08:12AM

average_runner wrote: »

They will be restricted to the site where they are. So their movement will be more restricted than ours.

I feel sorry for them, they are coming to a more dangerous country than their own for the Corona virus.

Not really, growth of cases in the community is virtually zero.

weldoninhio · 17-04-2020 08:12AM

lawred2 wrote: »

So did I. And I was in a field. Was a fruit farm just down the road.. they were a bit of a cottage industry though for the local area. Not a Nationwide distributor. This was over twenty years ago.

And are we talking about a cottage industry here or a nationwide distributor (Keelings)?? :rolleyes:

paw patrol · 17-04-2020 08:13AM

Graham wrote: »

And your familiar with the arrangement for those that have just been flown in?

If you read my comments I was clear .
I don't think their statement is workable given the set up.
I asked clear precise question - you should read it.

Covid19 · 17-04-2020 08:13AM

Some folks are missing the point here. The World and society has changed forever. This changed has prevented what we deemed normal, and will not return to the way things were. Bricks and Mortar retail has taken a huge hit. More people are shopping online and thousands of shops will never open again. Most companies have remained closed and will either never trade again, or will trade under very different procedures and processes.
Some companies, such as Keelings, seem to think that, despite the enormous, society-changing, upheaval brought about by the virus, that they can continue working as normal but they are sadly mistaken.
For example, Hardware stores are technically allowed to remain open as they are listed as an essential service, however the Grafton Group ( Woodies, Chadwicks, Heiton Buckley) have chosen to remain closed for the wellbeing of their staff and for positive optics.
Keelings have stuck both fingers in their ears and are loudly shouting "La la is is la la" as if all is well.
One companies actions has resulted in those of us who either work the front line, isolated ourselves from our loved ones or have become unemployed due to these life-changing times, to ask " what's the point? ".
What they have been permitted to do will have much greater consequences for the government then these threads on Boards, Twitter or Facebook.
They will be on the usual Media outlets later today to try to shut the stable door. Bad management, bad planning and a refusal to adapt to a new way of living has resulted in optics of the worst kind for their PRO.

Graham · 17-04-2020 08:14AM

weldoninhio wrote: »

I don't think I've ever bought strawberries. Wouldn't notice if hey were gone from our shelves. Could grow some out the back if I need some.

How many of our every day fruit & veg do you think might be picked by migrant fruit pickers somewhere?

weldoninhio · 17-04-2020 08:15AM

Elmo wrote: »

Didn’t the government prevent this from happening in homes with au pairs?

Do they get their own room? What kind of food and board do they get?

Mod Snip. Don't post that location again.

whisky_galore · 17-04-2020 08:15AM

average_runner wrote: »

They will be restricted to the site where they are. So their movement will be more restricted than ours.

I feel sorry for them, they are coming to a more dangerous country than their own for the Corona virus.

Yep again, 38 deaths in their home country while here heading for 500 deaths posters complain about these infected furriners packed into a plane.

17-04-2020 08:15AM

Tacitus Kilgore wrote: »

I'd say - Keelings will ride out the outrage until something else pops up on facebook, people will forget and move on - they'll still want their strawberries so nothing will change.

I’d say keelings will have to rebrand the berries and other items they have on the shelves. People won’t forget the name.

Tacitus Kilgore · 17-04-2020 08:15AM

whisky_galore wrote: »

It would be a piss poor business that was looking to make a loss, or break even.

We should get rid of all these companies driven by profit, and replace them with ones who strive to make losses, would make for a more successful economy.

is_that_so · 17-04-2020 08:16AM

Covid19 wrote: »

Some folks are missing the point here. The World and society has changed forever. This changed has prevented what we deemed normal, and will not return to the way things were. Bricks and Mortar retail has taken a huge hit. More people are shopping online and thousands of shops will never open again. Most companies have remained closed and will either never trade again, or will trade under very different procedures and processes.
Some companies, such as Keelings, seem to think that, despite the enormous, society-changing, upheaval brought about by the virus, that they can continue working as normal but they are sadly mistaken.
For example, Hardware stores are technically allowed to remain open as they are listed as an essential service, however the Grafton Group ( Woodies, Chadwicks, Heiton Buckley) have chosen to remain closed for the wellbeing of their staff and for positive optics.
Keelings have stuck both fingers in their ears and are loudly shouting "La la is is la la" as if all is well.
One companies actions has resulted in those of us who either work the front line, isolated ourselves from our loved ones or have become unemployed due to these life-changing times, to ask " what's the point? ".
What they have been permitted to do will have much greater consequences for the government then these threads on Boards, Twitter or Facebook.
They will be on the usual Media outlets later today to try to shut the stable door. Bad management, bad planning and a refusal to adapt to a new way of living has resulted in optics of the worst kind for their PRO.

Do you think leaving crops to rot in the ground is the right move and good management? Bear in mind we already waste up to 30% of food before it even gets to us. No, it'll have no effect on government. As other rightly pointed out, it's a minor tabloid piece.

Tacitus Kilgore · 17-04-2020 08:17AM

Graham wrote: »

How many of our every day fruit & veg do you think might be picked by migrant fruit pickers somewhere?

Lots of eyes about to be opened about where our food comes from, and how much it should actually cost.

weldoninhio · 17-04-2020 08:17AM

Mr.S wrote: »

Keeling's don't just pick strawberries.

The logical answer is Keeling's should pay a decent wage so that local's would do it (tbh though, I really doubt they would get the numbers they need) instead of the need to bring in cheaper labour.

To do that, shops like Lidl / Tesco and all the rest need to pay Keeling's more for their produce, which is currently pittance. So, they would need to increase costs to the consumer to still get their cut and make it a viable product on the shelf, which would effect sales (price goes up, sales go down) and no one want's to spend a lot of money on fruit & veg - it's dirt cheap for a reason.

It's a bit bonkers we need to import workers to do these jobs and the timing is absolutely awful for Keeling's - but who else is going to do it?

The alternative is a damaged supply chain for fruit & veg - I guarantee you the uproar about that would be more then a plane-full of Bulgarians coming into the country.

Keeling's are not exactly a star employer, let's be clear about that. They are also a business driven by making profit so will do everything within their business means to turn money over. I'd also hope the HSE drop by to make sure the staff are self-isolating in proper conditions over the next 14 days.

Bravo, we've established that Keelings do more than strawberries.

But as Keelings own statement says "Without these seasonal workers it would be impossible to bring fresh Irish strawberries to the Irish market."

They are here to pick strawberries.

Graham · 17-04-2020 08:18AM

Covid19 wrote: »

One companies actions has resulted in those of us who either work the front line, isolated ourselves from our loved ones or have become unemployed due to these life-changing times, to ask " what's the point? ".

I assume most of our front line workers are sensible enough to understand that food supply is essential.

Scotty # · 17-04-2020 08:19AM

Deleted User wrote: »

Because they don't pay an appropriate wage.

It's no coincidence that they've plucked the workers from the country with the lowest minimum wage in the EU.

Keelings employ hundreds if Irish workers.

olestoepoke · 17-04-2020 08:20AM

average_runner wrote: »

They will be restricted to the site where they are. So their movement will be more restricted than ours.

I feel sorry for them, they are coming to a more dangerous country than their own for the Corona virus.

According to the latest results we have this thing under control, it's all pointless if we are going to allow dozens of untested people from a country as backward as Bulgaria (Ive been there twice). Why aren't we doing what New Zealand are doing? lock the country down for 2 or 3 weeks. No one allowed in unless they spend 2 weeks in an airport hotel , if you leave you are warned that you will spend 2 weeks in a hotel on your return. Extreme I know but this would allow our entire country to get back to normal, schools open, work etc. Now this only works if the whole island of Ireland is on board. Spray any imports with disinfectant. Do that for as long as it takes for this thing to resolve itself outside our country. Even if we eradicate the virus all it takes is one person travelling for places like Bulgaria or the UK.

Wanderer78 · 17-04-2020 08:21AM

Strawberry Milkshake wrote:

Iâ€™d say keelings will have to rebrand the berries and other items they have on the shelves. People wonâ€™t forget the name.

People won't give a ****e once this blows over

is_that_so · 17-04-2020 08:22AM

Strawberry Milkshake wrote: »

I’d say keelings will have to rebrand the berries and other items they have on the shelves. People won’t forget the name.

Always check the fruit that I buy for quality and for where it comes from geographically. I couldn't tell you who the companies are and nor can anyone else. People inclined to boycott them will do so anyway, the rest will be looking at price and quality.

average_runner · 17-04-2020 08:22AM

Deleted User wrote: »

Because they don't pay an appropriate wage.

It's no coincidence that they've plucked the workers from the country with the lowest minimum wage in the EU.

They do what all fruit farms in Europe does, pay the basic wage.

Basic wage is more than the dole

ted1 · 17-04-2020 08:22AM

whisky_galore wrote: »

Yep again, 38 deaths in their home country while here heading for 500 deaths posters complain about these infected furriners packed into a plane.

How are the counted, the UK and other countries are only reporting deaths in hospitals. If we were to do that our number would be much smaller

Graham · 17-04-2020 08:22AM

Pretzill wrote: »

I would hope that during an Emergency young people would be only too happy to do it and get paid

I wouldn't bet our food supply on it.

kravmaga · 17-04-2020 08:22AM

Shame on Keelings Ltd.

Why did they not source local labour 1st before spending money on leasing an aircraft from Ryanair of workers from Bulgaria.

We dont know the medical backgrounds/ condition upon arrival into Ireland.

Were temp checks conducted at Dublin Airport on these workers from Bulgaria by DAA or HSE officials?

They have to pay for the accommodation for the workers from Bulgaria. Is this something which Keelings do every year or is this a new phenomenon.

I just don't get the decision made by Keelings HR Department/ Senior Management to bring workers in from another country when we have 500,000 out of work here in ROI.

I wont be buying their product going forward and this could turn out to be a very bad business decision for Keelings , this brings back memories of the famous Dunnes Stores strike in Henry street when the staff refused to sell South African fruit because of the regime in SA at that time in the early 80's.

https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/ryanair-dublin-airport-respond-concerns-18104529

https://keelings.ie/corporate/statement-april-16-2020/

17-04-2020 08:22AM

is_that_so wrote: »

Do you think leaving crops to rot in the ground is the right move and good management? Bear in min we already waste up to 30% of food before it even gets to us. No, it'll have no effect on government. As other rightly pointed out, it's a minor tabloid piece.

If its not profitable/viable to pick it,yes

I seen cattle grazing cabbage,any amount of beet/spudz ploughed back in,maize is generally a diaster most years here,any amount of barley/oats gets lodged here annually and ends up being pitted

Seen lads lose a fortune few years ago due to drought aswell

Farming is the ultimate entrpernur sector and most at risk from weather/things out of farmers control

olestoepoke · 17-04-2020 08:23AM

Deleted User wrote: »

Because they don't pay an appropriate wage.

It's no coincidence that they've plucked the workers from the country with the lowest minimum wage in the EU.

Yep, sounds like pure greed on their part. Reckless behaviour to say the least.

whisky_galore · 17-04-2020 08:24AM

Wanderer78 wrote: »

People won't give a ****e once this blows over

They didn't give a tuppenny damn who picked their fruit prior to this.

gmisk · 17-04-2020 08:24AM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Surely the obvious thing for anyone with isdue here is organise a boycott of any/all keelings products

If one of the workers coughs onto the fruit,how long deos virus live on that surface??

I think it can survive up to a few days on a surface.
You do know you would have the same risk if the person picking it was Irish....right?

Actually probably less risk with a Bulgarian person as they have very few cases versus ireland.

Bulgarian workers/Keelings - read OP (threadbans listed)

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