Protestors rallied from their cars, honking their horns around city hall and the city’s fish district.
Some of the protestors, including the workers that cut, debone, and package the nation’s seafood, say they’re getting sick on the job.
One fish processor, who asked to remain anonymous, says many of her co-workers have stopped working, scared they’ll infect their families with the COVID-19 virus.
“The fish processing industry is not providing the services [workers need],” the protester said in Spanish. “We’re talking about masks, talking about other things like disinfectants. There are basic things lacking in these places.”
Last month, the city’s health department issued cease and desist orders against Blue Harvest Fisheries and Pier Fish after clusters of COVID-19 cases were discovered. The facilities were permitted to re-open after certain measures were met including designating a Health and Safety officer to record staff temperatures, requiring employees to wear masks, and enacting social distancing guidelines.
New Bedford mayor Jon Mitchell said the health department has inspected a number of facilities and is providing guidance on how to better implement safer working standards like social distancing.
“We’re seeing widespread compliance,” Mitchell said. “We take these allegations seriously but we’ve seen significant improvement.”
Mitchell plans to issue an order that will provide clear COVID-19 guidelines to all companies operating in the city.
The city has asked that any workers with concerns to public health should notify the Health Department at 508-991-6199.
