Workers at 13th Note in Glasgow's Merchant City to strike

Staff at 13th Note in King Street are to walk out in the days ahead, saying they have exhausted all other options to resolve a long-running dispute over pay, conditions and union recognition.

The Glasgow Times understands the strike is set to take place on dates across July and will see workers withdraw their labour for up to two days a week.

Unite Hospitality, who represent the staff, say the strike ballot received a 100% ‘yes’ vote on a majority turnout.

Staff exclusively spoke to the Glasgow Times on Friday to explain that the decision to take industrial action was a ‘last resort’.

Protest at 13th Note (Image: Newsquest)

Chef Nick Troy said: "Of course we are worried about what this could mean for the business, we have all invested a lot of blood, sweat and tears into the 13th Note, but for 17 weeks, we have been trying to reason with the management, but we are still not being properly listened to.

"We’ve run out of patience and this was the only viable option left open to us.People are stressed out by what has been going on over these last few months, they are worried about how they will pay their bills and how they will feed themselves, yet they are still willing to vote with their feet. We are miffed it has reached this stage, it has been draining, but we are determined to see it through now.

“Withdrawing our labour is not a decision we have taken lightly, and even the staff members who were on holiday or away and couldn’t vote in the actual ballot are firmly behind the collective decision.

“We want to find a resolution for everyone’s sake, the staff and the owner’s. This can all be sorted out with some compromise from above, but maybe management will realise now how resolute the workers are.”

Staff at the famous Merchant City bar submitted a collective grievance in March, saying the kitchen was ill-equipped and posed a risk to staff safety.

Staff say strike at iconic Glasgow bar shows workers' resolve for fair pay (Image: Newsquest)

In one incident, Unite say the front wheel on an industrial fridge weighing 180kg snapped and almost toppled onto a worker, while shelves in the kitchen collapsed close to where a chef was working.

The bar was subsequently closed for three days in June after an inspection by Environmental Health officers found the presence of mice in the premises – another issue staff say had been flagged to management.

READ MORE: 13th Note staff accuse Glasgow bar chiefs of 'delays' over dispute | Glasgow Times

They also raised concerns about rates of pay, zero-hour contracts and a lack of willingness by bosses to recognise their union.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Our members at the 13th Note in Glasgow are united in taking a stand, in what would be the first bar workers’ strike across the UK in over 20 years. That says a lot about them, but it surely also says a lot about their employer.”

Bryan Simpson, lead organiser for Unite Hospitality, added: “Unless the owners of 13th Note get back around the negotiating table to propose improvements to wages, health and safety and union recognition, the rift between the owner and workers will only grow wider.”

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The venue’s owner, Jacqueline Fennessy, today denied that the strike action is backed by all of the staff who work there.

In a statement to the Glasgow Times she said: “Unite the Union do not have 100% support for strike action from 13th Note staff.

“Only 10 union members actually voted in the ballot, out of 17 union who were eligible, and I will state again, there are no health and safety issues in the venue.

“Any issues raised by Environmental Health were dealt with immediately and we were authorised to reopen within 72 hours.

“I would reiterate there are no staff at the 13th Note on zero-hour contracts and all staff are being paid above the Living Wage.”