13th Note staff in Glasgow thank public for donations

Shocked staff at the 13th Note were told on Wednesday morning that owner Jacqueline Fennessy had called in liquidators, just weeks after they began a series of strikes over a long-running pay and conditions dispute.

They claim that the decision to pull the plug on the King Street venue was a tit-for-tat response to their decision to take industrial action that they hoped would force bosses to get back around the negotiating table.

The move to close the bar after more than two decades left around 20 workers jobless, but now colleagues from the hospitality industry and 'Note' regulars have rallied to collect a four-figure sum for a hardship fund set up to support affected staff.

Chef Nick Troy told the Glasgow Times that the donations have helped to buoy the spirits of deflated employees.

He said: "The response in such a short space of time has been brilliant, it really means a lot to all of us.

"We've been left on the breadline with no idea if we will ever see any of the wages owed to us, so donations like these really will make a real difference and help us to survive."

The Glasgow Times can reveal that the news the 13th Note was being liquidated came just two hours before a scheduled meeting with ACAS that staff hoped could lead to a fresh round of negotiations with management.

Nick added: "To be told at such short notice that our jobs were gone knocked everyone for six, especially when we thought there was a chance of progress being made to fix things through ACAS.

Shocked staff outside the 13th Note (Image: Newsquest)

“People don’t know how they will pay their rent or bills, so this money is a real comfort in that regard while we plan what to do next."

The page was launched with an initial target of £5,000 to help with 'immediate hardship', but donations from over 200 wellwishers quickly saw it smash through that sum.

In a statement released on Wednesday morning, 13th Note owner Jacqueline Fennessy claimed that Unite Hospitality were responsible for 'sabotaging' her business.

READ MORE: Staff at 13th Note in Glasgow's Merchant City blast owner

She said: "I’m devastated with the closure of something I’ve cherished and loved along with the hundreds of loyal customers who frequented the Note, and I would like to thank everyone who has played a role in creating what was a vibrant Glasgow institution

She added: "The challenges of running an independent hospitality venue in today’s climate of inflationary pressures and post-lockdown challenges have been well documented. However, it has been the involvement of Unite Hospitality that has caused a drastic reduction in revenue that has forced our closure and the loss of all jobs at the 13th Note.

“Unite Hospitality has sabotaged our business with a repeated onslaught on social media and the wider press.

“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 went ahead with strike action which has fully depleted all available funds in the business.”

Bryan Simpson, who organises hospitality staff for Unite the Union, says he believes Ms Fennessy has acted outwith the law.

He said: "Jacqueline Fennessy made a firm commitment to Unite and her workforce that she would postpone any redundancies until we'd at least had a chance to meet via ACAS to resolve the issue, a meeting that she called for.

"This employer didn't even have the decency to tell some of her workers before going to the press."

To support 13th Note staff click here.