13th Note staff in Glasgow say they have been 'blindsided' by owner

Shocked workers at the 13th Note in the Merchant City say they have been ‘blindsided’ after being told by the venue’s owner Jacqueline Fennessey that a number of roles are potentially on the line. 

An email, which has been seen by the Glasgow Times, was sent to staff on Monday and cites ‘poor performance’, ‘excruciating utility bills’ and ‘hot weather’ as some of the management's reasons for the decision. 

It reads: “I am writing to inform you of a business announcement and that we are at risk of potential redundancies. These are solely based on the poor performance of the venue over several months. 

“With increased costs across the board, especially excruciating utility bills, and with weeks of hot weather also affecting us, at the moment, the forecast does not look good. Cash flow is very worrying." 

It continues: “I feel it is important to give you as much warning as possible of the serious risk of redundancy. At the moment, I have not decided who exactly is at risk and no selection process has been started at this stage. 

“I will know better at the start of next week when I sit down with my office manager and go through the accounts, as well as monitor the situation over the next few weeks. 

“I will have a one-to-one meeting with all staff to discuss this in more detail. Once I look at your rotas, I will send an email confirming a day and time for a follow up meeting.” 

We revealed on Monday that workers plan to walk out on Friday July 14 and will continue to withdraw their labour every weekend until August 6. 

READ MORE: 13th Note staff in Glasgow's Merchant City to strike from July 14

Unite Hospitality, which represents 95 per cent of those employed at the venue, says the decision to strike was a result of continuing poor working conditions and poor pay for employees of the King Street bar. 

Staff at the 13th Note (Image: Newsquest)

Nick Troy, who works as a chef at the venue, exclusively told the Glasgow Times that staff feel they have been targeted as a result of their recent threat to take industrial action. 

He said: “After serving notice of our strike last Friday, Unite members at the 13th Note have been threatened with redundancy. Our members who were not at the venue were blindsided to bypass their right to union representation in these discussions. 

 “Furthermore, those who Ms Fennessey has failed to telephone over the weekend have received an email on Monday outlining that they are at risk of losing their job. 

“We have to be clear that this has nothing to do with poor performance. Ms Fennessey has had 18 weeks with which to meet with us and find a resolution. This is an attack on workers standing up for their right to job security, good conditions and a life free of poverty pay. 

“We at the 13th Note, like all workers, deserve dignity and respect. We urge Ms Fennessey to get round the negotiating table. As a workforce collective, we will not accept a single redundancy.” 

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The escalating dispute, which has been rumbling on since March when workers lodged an official grievance over pay and conditions. 

Unite says its members have just voted unanimously to pre-authorise a payment of £10,000 to support 13th Note staff during any strike. 

Bryan Simpson, lead organiser for Unite Hospitality, says that a breakdown in negotiations has pushed the workforce to breaking point. 

He added: “These redundancies have nothing to do with poor performance. This is about getting rid of unionised workers who have taken a stand against some of the most egregious health and safety breaches I’ve ever seen. 

“Announcing mass redundancy days after workers vote for strike action is trade union victimisation, pure and simple, when people are already stressed and worried about how they will pay their bills. 

“If Ms Fennessey wants to avoid a sustained legal battle, she should rescind these redundancy notices and work with us to resolve the dispute.” 

In a statement to the Glasgow Times, Ms Fennessey said she was acting within the law to provide staff with notice of the risk to their employment. 

She added: “The business is in a financially precarious position which may or may not result in redundancies. I am obliged, legally and morally, to give staff as much notice as possible of any risk of redundancy. 

“It is categorically untrue to allege that any warning given of redundancy is in any way related to union membership or industrial action. All staff including non-union members were informed of the risk. 

“I fully support staff's right to join a union and have never intimated anything to the contrary. Given the current financial climate, factors such as Covid, high utility bills, soaring inflation and the like, the business is not unique in facing a struggle to survive."