An ex-waitress at a pancake restaurant has claimed she was sacked because she is a Labour Party member and trade unionist.
Lauren Harper, 20, worked for Stack & Still in Glasgow when she was abruptly let go, with managers saying her views “did not align with the company”. She later found out bosses had trawled her social media account where she discussed trade union activism.
Firm CEO Paul Reynolds cited Lauren’s tweets including ones where she encouraged others to join a trade union. Lauren joined Stack & Still’s West George Street branch on October 12 and was sacked on November 6.
She said: “When I interviewed for the job, I said I may need a Saturday off – one every two months – to go to the Labour SEC as I’m a youth representative on it. It didn’t seem like an issue but then when I found out the dates and asked for it off I was told I couldn’t have it off.
"I had been there about three weeks when I was asked to come over to have a chat with my supervisor at the end of my shift and they told me they wouldn’t be continuing with my employment. I was in shock.
"They said that my values didn’t align with the company’s and I had no idea what they were talking about. The crazy thing is, that same day I’d been told that I was a great waitress.
"They didn’t seem to follow any policy and just let me go.”
Lauren said she battled the firm for more than a month for the reason why she was sacked before being given with what the firm claimed was “evidence” for her dismissal including tweets sent after she had been dismissed. One of the tweets included was described by the firm as “in response to a shared tweet about a Labour Party meeting”.
Laura said: “If I have said anything about my own job, I never mentioned who I work for and have never named the company or criticised them publicly.”
Bryan Simpson, national organiser for Unite Hospitality, said it is looking at every avenue “including industrial and legal action, to ensure Lauren receives the justice she deserves”.
In an email sent to Lauren, seen by the Sunday Mail, Reynolds said: “I have set out our position and I reiterate that I do not consider you have been treated unfairly.” The Sunday Mail contacted Reynolds and the firm but received no response.
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