SACKED workers from a now-defunct Scottish bar at the heart of trade union dispute have smashed a fundraising target to protect them from destitution.
Employees at the 13th Note in Glasgow found themselves out of work earlier this week following a battle with management over pay and conditions, in what was thought to be the first bar workers’ strike in Scotland in more than 20 years.
Owner Jacqueline Fennessy– who also owns The Bungo and The Left Bank – announced she had appointed liquidators, putting the 18-strong team of workers at the city centre bar and venue out of work.
A fundraiser set up by the workers to shield themselves against “immediate hardships” has raised £5442 – over its initial £5000 target.
A statement attached to the fundraiser said: “We struck for fair pay, fair contracts, a safer workplace and trade union recognition that would allow us to concretise the improvements we were achieving.
“Jacqueline Fennessy, the owner of the 13th Note, the Left Bank and the Bungo, refused to meet us on these very reasonable demands, instead opting to embark on a campaign of trade union victimisation.”
They went on to claim Fennessy closed the bar on Wednesday just two hours before she was due to sit down with a Unite Hospitality union representative at an ACAS mediation session.
The statement added: “The funds raised here will be used to support workers against any immediate hardships as the result of job losses, as well as support our campaign to reclaim our venue and livelihoods!”
Announcing the closure on Facebook Fennessy accused Unite Hospitality of forcing her to close the business.
She said: "Despite direct talks with Unite Hospitality about the 13th Note being in crisis and all jobs being at risk as recently as July 5, they continued publishing untruths and went ahead with strike action which has fully depleted all available funds in the business.
"Sadly all 18 team members will be losing their jobs today.
"I have faced direct threats and verbal assaults from the Unite Hospitality leader and dealt with a level of dishonesty and bullying I’ve never encountered in my 21 years as an independent female business owner.
"Why an organisation designed to protect the welfare of hospitality employees would choose to sabotage its own members' jobs with full knowledge of the impact their action would have, I will never know.
"Every business encounters challenges, but any issues raised were rectified quickly and the team treated with integrity, respect and an honest desire to make their working lives better.
"The statements of serious health and safety issues were simply not true.
"With the business driven to insolvency by Unite Hospitality, it is time for the 13th Note to sadly close its doors for the last time."
Fennessy was approached for further comment.
You can donate here: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-the-13th-note-workers
