Bulgarian workers/Keelings - read OP (threadbans listed)

17-04-2020 12:09PM

“Also that the workers had no medical examination or risk assessment when they landed. I have asked the Government to investigate,” deputy Toibín said in a tweet on the matter.

https://twitter.com/Toibin1/status/1250804057557676033?s=20

It has been reported to me that another flight will land in Dublin today with a large number of fruit pickers for north Dublin.

Either the country is in lockdown or its not.
Either we are all in this together or we are not.

These flights need to be stopped until the crisis ends

https://twitter.com/Toibin1/status/1251097094380797953?s=20

blinding · 17-04-2020 12:09PM

Yakult wrote: »

Wait, so governments world wide have travel restrictions, we can't stray further than two kilometre radius, but Keelings can import Bulgarians in to our country while its on lock down, for profit? Nevermind the labour part, but how are they allowed to do such a thing when governments are saying otherwise? Makes this effort of our little country a joke.

Who approved Keelings to make this decision? This country is a joke. Sure I'll import a few Bulgarians to paint my house.

Business connections to who in Government ? ? ?:eek::eek:

Tacitus Kilgore · 17-04-2020 12:09PM

Yakult wrote: »

Wait, so governments world wide have travel restrictions, we can't stray further than two kilometre radius, but Keelings can import Bulgarians in to our country while its on lock down, for profit? Nevermind the labour part, but how are they allowed to do such a thing when governments are saying otherwise? Makes this effort of our little country a joke.

Who approved Keelings to make this decision? This country is a joke. Sure I'll import a few Bulgarians to paint my house.

Is house painting an essential service like food production?

thecomedian · 17-04-2020 12:09PM

redunited wrote: »

https://extra.ie/2020/04/17/news/irish-news/bulgarian-fruit-pickers-ireland

https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/irish-fruit-company-keelings-slammed-21880693

https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/dublin-airport-ryanair-make-statements-21881536

https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/dublin-fruit-company-keelings-under-18104457

https://www.joe.ie/news/keelings-issue-statement-flying-workers-bulgaria-696482

https://www.newstalk.com/news/covid-19-workers-brought-ireland-pick-seasonal-fruits-1001269

https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/keelings-flies-seasonal-berry-picking-workers-to-ireland/

https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/keelings-under-fire-for-flying-in-fruit-pickers-from-abroad-during-pandemic-994585.html

https://www.irishpost.com/news/irish-fruit-company-slated-flying-strawberry-pickers-bulgaria-covid-19-outbreak-183663

I want a link to back up your post that they are replacing Irish workers.
Those links don’t do that.

Clarence Boddiker · 17-04-2020 12:09PM

Bulgarian who worked for Keelings did an AMA on reddit.

>We work 6 days per week. Sometimes when there is not enough work, for example if the weather is bad and the fruit is not ready to be picked we would get a day off, but that's rare. Normally we work 8 hours per day, but it's not unusual to work 50-65 hours per week during the summer.

>The pickers are paid based on the pick rate for the day. For example today the pick rate for strawberries is 15kg p/h. If the picker picks 15kg p/h or less he gets paid the minimum wage, but he can be paid more if he pick more fruit. For example if he picks 30kg p/h he will earn double. We never got paid less than the minimum wage.

>Yeah, but most of the times they will just give a pick rate that 95% of the workers can't achieve. They do that so they won't have to pay us extra.
Btw in order to pick 30kg p/h you will have to basically be running the entire day.

>You don't get any free stuff. The average worker earns around 480EUR per week. 95EUR goes for accommodation + buying food.

>My thoughts? I hate them because they do w/e they want with us because we are so easily replaceable.

>I lived in the Hazelwood Student Accommodation. I was paying 95EUR per week. I have no complaints about it. I don't think there is another country in Europe that will give their farm workers accommodations like this.

>I am not working in Ireland anymore. I loved Ireland, it's a really great country. The only thing I don't like about it is the fact you drive on the wrong side of the road and the cold weather, but that's not something bothering the Irish, haha. Like most of the time, people are just walking with t-shirts and short pants and I am sitting there shivering.
Really the thing you miss the most when you leave your country is your family and friends.

>The conditions are not that good. We work outside in the rain and in the sun. If it rains you have to make sure you keep the fruit dry. I've seen people covering the fruits with their clothes, because if the fruit gets wet it might get declined and the person will lose his hourly pick rate.

>You are paid the min wage but if you pick more than the hourly pick rate you earn more, hence why people are doing everything they can to keep the fruits they picked in good condition. The picker will never get paid less than the min wage.

>What are they like to work for? Well let me just say that 95% of the Bulgarians hate Keelings, but we need this job. For you the min wage is really low but for the Bulgarians is a lot. Keelings knows that. They know we are easily replaceable and tend to do w/e they want with us.

>Some are working to buy a house for their kids, some of them are starting businesses, some of them are working to pay their loans. I was working there in order to pay for my college.

>The average worker earns about 480EUR per WEEK. In Bulgaria, you will earn that amount in a MONTH. In around 4 months of working in Keelings some people will go home with around 6,000 EUR, which is around 12,000BGN, which is a lot in Bulgaria.

>The prices in Ireland are 2 times more expensive than in Bulgaria. For example, your bread is 1EUR and in Bulgaria it is 0.50EUR. This is the reason we get a lot of tourism to our sea. Summer beach is cheap heaven for tourists.

>Basically, to come and work here you pay the agency about 300EUR, which includes the plane ticket.

>It doesn't matter if you fail to pick your hourly pick rate. You will get the min wage, but if you keep failing there is a chance you won't get an invite to work again the next year.

>Keelings is actually doing a pretty good job when it comes to employment rights, however, you'd better not get any injury while working. Keelings hates when a worker gets hurt and they will do everything they can to avoid paying the hospital bill and everything else that comes with the injury.

>Last year a forklift broke someone's leg. We've been working in one of the glasshouses. The health guy came in and the first question he asked was "WTF were you doing there" instead of asking "How are you?". It's just disgusting. Obviously Keelings had to pay all expenses. That person got fired after a month and he didn't get an invitation to work there again.

>I worked in Keelings, because I didn't want my parents to pay for my college expenses.

>Now I found a nice paying job in Bulgaria and won't be working in Keelings again.

>Everyone that was on the plane knew that there is a risk of getting sick, but most of them just have no other option. They are unemployed in Bulgaria, they have kids and they have bills. We don't get any compensation for being unemployed during the pandemic, so the people have no choice. Either they risk going to Ireland or they run out of money.

thecomedian · 17-04-2020 12:11PM

blinding wrote: »

I don’t think they would be advertising the like if they had :eek::eek:

Ya think Paddy is not capable as being as big a scumbag as scumbags from elsewhere ! !

Not concerned about the exploitation of seasonal workers:eek::eek: Quite thecomedian ! !:eek::eek:

Well are they or are they not??

frillyleaf · 17-04-2020 12:13PM

blacklilly wrote: »

I am sickened by all the commentary on this.

Firstly keelings is an indigenous Irish company that directly and indirectly employs thousands of people. They produce top quality fruit and are a household name.

Secondly, show me the que of Irish people applying for jobs to pick fruit with them? The Irish are too above themselves (in the majority) to do this work. Simple as.

Thirdly, this is showing the Irish to be discriminatory and in part racist too. All the so called anger is entirely misplaced. Keelings are doing what the do every year to ensure they can supply our food chain with their produce.

The government are still allowing flights into and out of Ireland, what are keelings to do? Let their fruit crop die and rot?

I will make a point of buying keelings a this weekend.

I’ve no affiliation to Keelings whatsoever but the response to this has made by blood boil.

Yes me too. I've seen businesses close down as a result of misinformed facebook posts.

I'm sure there is a reason these people have been flown in. People are far too quick to judge without knowing the full facts. Very dangerous

Alrigghtythen · 17-04-2020 12:13PM

It's going to be some craic when were ploughing crops back in to the ground for want of picking and the shelves empty. We can all comfort ourselves with our essential food off the approved list.

Good times ahead

Graham · 17-04-2020 12:14PM

frillyleaf wrote: »

Yes me too. I've seen businesses close down as a result of misinformed facebook posts.

I'm sure there is a reason these people have been flown in. People are far too quick to judge without knowing the full facts. Very dangerous

+1

I'd rather not secure the nations food supply by way of a Facebook popularity contest.

blinding · 17-04-2020 12:15PM

Clarence Boddiker wrote: »

Bulgarian who worked for Keelings did an AMA on reddit.

>We work 6 days per week. Sometimes when there is not enough work, for example if the weather is bad and the fruit is not ready to be picked we would get a day off, but that's rare. Normally we work 8 hours per day, but it's not unusual to work 50-65 hours per week during the summer.

>The pickers are paid based on the pick rate for the day. For example today the pick rate for strawberries is 15kg p/h. If the picker picks 15kg p/h or less he gets paid the minimum wage, but he can be paid more if he pick more fruit. For example if he picks 30kg p/h he will earn double. We never got paid less than the minimum wage.

>Yeah, but most of the times they will just give a pick rate that 95% of the workers can't achieve. They do that so they won't have to pay us extra.
Btw in order to pick 30kg p/h you will have to basically be running the entire day.

>You don't get any free stuff. The average worker earns around 480EUR per week. 95EUR goes for accommodation + buying food.

>My thoughts? I hate them because they do w/e they want with us because we are so easily replaceable.

>I lived in the Hazelwood Student Accommodation. I was paying 95EUR per week. I have no complaints about it. I don't think there is another country in Europe that will give their farm workers accommodations like this.

>I am not working in Ireland anymore. I loved Ireland, it's a really great country. The only thing I don't like about it is the fact you drive on the wrong side of the road and the cold weather, but that's not something bothering the Irish, haha. Like most of the time, people are just walking with t-shirts and short pants and I am sitting there shivering.
Really the thing you miss the most when you leave your country is your family and friends.

>The conditions are not that good. We work outside in the rain and in the sun. If it rains you have to make sure you keep the fruit dry. I've seen people covering the fruits with their clothes, because if the fruit gets wet it might get declined and the person will lose his hourly pick rate.

>You are paid the min wage but if you pick more than the hourly pick rate you earn more, hence why people are doing everything they can to keep the fruits they picked in good condition. The picker will never get paid less than the min wage.

>What are they like to work for? Well let me just say that 95% of the Bulgarians hate Keelings, but we need this job. For you the min wage is really low but for the Bulgarians is a lot. Keelings knows that. They know we are easily replaceable and tend to do w/e they want with us.

>Some are working to buy a house for their kids, some of them are starting businesses, some of them are working to pay their loans. I was working there in order to pay for my college.

>The average worker earns about 480EUR per WEEK. In Bulgaria, you will earn that amount in a MONTH. In around 4 months of working in Keelings some people will go home with around 6,000 EUR, which is around 12,000BGN, which is a lot in Bulgaria.

>The prices in Ireland are 2 times more expensive than in Bulgaria. For example, your bread is 1EUR and in Bulgaria it is 0.50EUR. This is the reason we get a lot of tourism to our sea. Summer beach is cheap heaven for tourists.

>Basically, to come and work here you pay the agency about 300EUR, which includes the plane ticket.

>It doesn't matter if you fail to pick your hourly pick rate. You will get the min wage, but if you keep failing there is a chance you won't get an invite to work again the next year.

>Keelings is actually doing a pretty good job when it comes to employment rights, however, you'd better not get any injury while working. Keelings hates when a worker gets hurt and they will do everything they can to avoid paying the hospital bill and everything else that comes with the injury.

>Last year a forklift broke someone's leg. We've been working in one of the glasshouses. The health guy came in and the first question he asked was "WTF were you doing there" instead of asking "How are you?". It's just disgusting. Obviously Keelings had to pay all expenses. That person got fired after a month and he didn't get an invitation to work there again.

>I worked in Keelings, because I didn't want my parents to pay for my college expenses.

>Now I found a nice paying job in Bulgaria and won't be working in Keelings again.

>Everyone that was on the plane knew that there is a risk of getting sick, but most of them just have no other option. They are unemployed in Bulgaria, they have kids and they have bills. We don't get any compensation for being unemployed during the pandemic, so the people have no choice. Either they risk going to Ireland or they run out of money.

Its Exploitation Pure and Simple. These people do not have the same Rights as Workers as Irish People living here. I’d say that if you complained you’d soon be out the door.

Ireland is a sick society to let people be treated like second class citizens in Ireland ! ! !

Tacitus Kilgore · 17-04-2020 12:15PM

Alrigghtythen wrote: »

It's going to be some craic when were ploughing crops back in to the ground for want of picking and the shelves empty. We can all comfort ourselves with our essential food off the approved list.

Good times ahead

So far it's only strawberries deemed non essential by the good people of this thread, maybe there will be more added with more outrage, who knows

blinding · 17-04-2020 12:17PM

thecomedian wrote: »

Well are they or are they not??

Could be . Is there even a Government Agency to look after these workers and stop them being abused and exploited.

How Open are Keelings about their operations ? ? ?

thecomedian · 17-04-2020 12:19PM

blinding wrote: »

Could be . Is there even a Government Agency to look after these workers and stop them being abused and exploited.

How Open are Keelings about their operations ? ? ?

So you don’t know and you have no proof that they do.

DeVore · 17-04-2020 12:19PM

If you think thats bad, wait till you hear how your Nike shoes are made by kids in China!

Everyone knows the labour markets are exploitative but we turn our heads away because we like cheap food and clothes. I do too. I'm not above this.

blinding · 17-04-2020 12:20PM

Alrigghtythen wrote: »

It's going to be some craic when were ploughing crops back in to the ground for want of picking and the shelves empty. We can all comfort ourselves with our essential food off the approved list.

Good times ahead

And Irish People could not have picked them ? Is the Young Irish Generation not even up to this in our Our of Need ?

Was it for this Young Irish generation that Thomas Clarke and James Connolly fought for Irish Freedom ? ?

Tacitus Kilgore · 17-04-2020 12:20PM

DeVore wrote: »

If you think thats bad, wait till you hear how your Nike shoes are made by kids in China!

Everyone knows the labour markets are exploitative but we turn our heads away because we like cheap food and clothes. I do too. I'm not above this.

Whoa slow down there sir, facts have no place in this discussion

thecomedian · 17-04-2020 12:21PM

DeVore wrote: »

If you think thats bad, wait till you hear how your Nike shoes are made by kids in China!

Everyone knows the labour markets are exploitative but we turn our heads away because we like cheap food and clothes. I do too. I'm not above this.

But you can’t beat a good outrage

osarusan · 17-04-2020 12:22PM

blinding wrote: »

Was it for this Young Irish generation that Thomas Clarke and James Connolly fought for Irish Freedom ? ?

hahaha, the state of this post.

Tacitus Kilgore · 17-04-2020 12:22PM

blinding wrote: »

And Irish People could not have picked them ? Is the Young Irish Generation not even up to this in our Our of Need ?

Was it for this Young Irish generation that Thomas Clarke and James Connolly fought for Irish Freedom ? ?

Why don't you go pick them? stop volunteering others on their behalf

17-04-2020 12:22PM

blinding wrote: »

Its Exploitation Pure and Simple. These people do not have the same Rights as Workers as Irish People living here. I’d say that if you complained you’d soon be out the door.

Ireland is a sick society to let people be treated like second class citizens in Ireland ! ! !

I believe they do have the same rights. Why do you think they do not?
Also, to come here for a few months & make the money that they make here is a massive boost for Bulgarians.
You wouldn't earn in a month what they can earn in a week here.

Graham · 17-04-2020 12:23PM

It is quite heartwarming to see the massive sudden outpouring of concern for our fruit pickers.

I expect there will be a boycott of 5 for 49c any minute soon (ish).

Yakult · 17-04-2020 12:23PM

Alrigghtythen wrote: »

You can go to keelings to work

I would, if I lived the same county. Travel restrictions if you weren’t aware?

Will they pick me up and give me free accommodation while I work?

frillyleaf · 17-04-2020 12:23PM

DeVore wrote: »

If you think thats bad, wait till you hear how your Nike shoes are made by kids in China!

Everyone knows the labour markets are exploitative but we turn our heads away because we like cheap food and clothes. I do too. I'm not above this.

Yeah not to mention most other cheap goods people buy without a second thought for who is making them. In some countries that make our clothes it a luxury to have a fan in some factories or a low death rate. Where is the outrage for this?

blinding · 17-04-2020 12:23PM

thecomedian wrote: »

So you don’t know and you have no proof that they do.

And you can prove the opposite ! ! :eek::eek:

Seasonal workers are often abused and exploited. I gave you a link that explained this to you.Perhaps you are too much of “thecomedian” to take the seriousness of this on board ! !:eek::eek:

thecomedian · 17-04-2020 12:23PM

blinding wrote: »

And Irish People could not have picked them ? Is the Young Irish Generation not even up to this in our Our of Need ?

Was it for this Young Irish generation that Thomas Clarke and James Connolly fought for Irish Freedom ? ?

Clarke and Connolly fought for Ireland, for people to get feed.
I’d imagine what they would think of people nowadays getting paid money for doing nothing and getting new houses for next to nothing

Alrigghtythen · 17-04-2020 12:23PM

blinding wrote: »

And Irish People could not have picked them ? Is the Young Irish Generation not even up to this in our Our of Need ?

Was it for this Young Irish generation that Thomas Clarke and James Connolly fought for Irish Freedom ? ?

No, unfortunately not and havent done for years. A job for fruits pickers was advertised on keelings website 31 march. Everyone had the freedom to apply, no?

blinding · 17-04-2020 12:25PM

Tacitus Kilgore wrote: »

Why don't you go pick them? stop volunteering others on their behalf

I advise FFG.

Alrigghtythen · 17-04-2020 12:25PM

Yakult wrote: »

I would, if I lived the same county. Travel restrictions if you weren’t aware?

Will they pick me up and give me free accommodation while I work?

Travel restrictions are not for key workers going to work.
Now you want then to collect and house you too? Will you manage your own lunch?

osarusan · 17-04-2020 12:25PM

Yakult wrote: »

I would, if I lived the same county.

Sure you would.

We have practically a whole workforce here on this thread who are just raring to get picking, but unfortunately there is always just something in the way.

thecomedian · 17-04-2020 12:26PM

blinding wrote: »

And you can prove the opposite ! ! :eek::eek:

Seasonal workers are often abused and exploited. I gave you a link that explained this to you.Perhaps you are too much of “thecomedian” to take the seriousness of this on board ! !:eek::eek:

I do t need to prove anything because you are the one implying they are using fang bosses.
With no proof or actual links to Keelings.

Bulgarian workers/Keelings - read OP (threadbans listed)

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