Glasgow's 13th Note workers to escalate grievance say Unite

Workers at the 13th Note in Merchant City are set to escalate their fight for fairer contracts, conditions and wages after a consultative ballot returned a massive show of support.

It comes just a week after dozens of fellow hospitality workers from local pubs, hotels and bars waved placards outside the venue in an act of solidarity – before going inside and chanting for a fairer deal for 13th Note staff.

Photo: Gordon Terris (Image: Newsquest)

Now a vote, conducted through Unite the Union, has revealed the strength of feeling among disgruntled employees at the popular venue.

It revealed that 100% are dissatisfied with the way their long-running grievance has been handled, that 82% are upset with their contracts, that every employee is dissatisfied with their pay and that all of them are now prepared to take legal and industrial action.

Bryan Simpson, who organises hospitality staff for Unite, told the Glasgow Times that they are still willing to negotiate with management – but stressed they now have the green light from members to take further action.

He added: “As we demonstrated recently, people are not happy with the treatment of our members at 13th Note.

“While some progress has since been made on pay and the grievance, we still have an owner who refuses to recognise the union which represents 95% of her workforce.

“We would urge management to get around the table with our reps and enter into positive discussion regarding voluntary recognition.”

Mr Simpson says that officials plan to meet with workers over the next few days to formulate a definitive strategy to take forward and act on the ballot results – but that their door remains open to find a resolution.

He added: “We want constructive talks, and although our members have made their feelings crystal clear and are now prepared to move to formal industrial action or a legal claim, we are still here if the owners want to try and avoid this happening.”

We previously told how a formal grievance was lodged earlier this year by the workforce amid allegations of ongoing issues with pay and contracts. The bar's owner has told the Glasgow Times that the business is still working to resolve the row.

In a statement provided to the Glasgow Times on Thursday, they said: “13th Note is in the process of dealing with a collective dispute raised by Unite on behalf of some of its workers. The first stage of that has been completed by an independent third party and an appeal hearing has been fixed for next week. We are taking all reasonable steps to resolve that dispute, in conjunction with Unite.

“All of the staff have guaranteed minimum hours of work, apart from sound engineers who are freelance and work for various venues. They do not work on zero-hours contracts, which is a particular type of contract which many businesses use to get around their obligations. These have never been used by 13th Note. The staff are all paid more than the minimum wage and have always been entitled to paid breaks.  

“Unite has not, in our opinion, held a ballot for lawful industrial action. They have asked staff if they are happy with the pace of the collective grievance, and happy with their pay and contracts. Whilst they have called it a ballot, we have no knowledge of the process they have followed as they have not shared that with us. The collective grievance process is not yet finished, with the appeal imminent. It would be sensible to let that process move to completion before making any further comment.

“It is our position that Unite has misrepresented a number of matters and we are taking advice on that. The picketing outside 13th Note last weekend was conducted by people who are not our employees, and it was damaging to our business.

“Management have never prevented our employees from joining a trade union, and we firmly believe that workers have the right to be members and to benefit from trade unions' services. However, employers also have rights in relation to trade union activity, and 13th Note will assert those rights if it is appropriate to do so.”

Mr Simpson added: "If management continues to ignore reasonable requests to engage over pay, contracts and conditions, we shall be forced to escalate this."