Hundreds of bar staff ‘sacked over phone’
DOZENS of Scots workers feared they had lost their jobs over the phone yesterday after hospitality giant G1 downsized. However, G1 bosses last night gave staff a stay of execution following rescue measures announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak. The company – owned by tycoon Stefan King – owns more than 50 venues across Scotland. Bosses told staff the job losses were caused by a slowdown in trade brought on by the coronavirus crisis. One Scots waitress feared she will be unable to pay her rent after being axed from her role at the Granary in Edinburgh. Natalia Chylak, 22, said: “I was meant to be working on Saturday but got a phone call from my boss. He said he was really sorry but he had to let all the staff go.”
Steve McFeat, 25, who worked at the Grosvenor Cafe in Glasgow, said: “We’ve basically been left helpless by G1.”
A bartender at one G1 venue, blasted King. He said: “This happened after the Government asked bosses to keep looking after staff.
“The next day, he’s gone and fired everyone.”
Action group Better Than Zero want King to negotiate with staff and urged other workers affected to get in touch.
Bryan Simpson, of Unite Hospitality, added: “We may be in the middle of a public health crisis but this does not give the country’s largest hospitality employer carte blanche to run rough-shod over workers rights.”
A G1 Group spokesman said: “Within the last 24 hours, we had to make the difficult decision to give notice to a significant number of our workforce.
“We quite deliberately chose to refrain from completing our formal process in the hope the Government would announce additional support.
“We received the news of the job retention scheme with relief and happiness and have stopped all proposed action in its tracks as a result.
“We wish to make clear to all our staff – including those with whom we had a conversation yesterday – that your line manager will be in touch with you in the coming days to discuss your ongoing employment.”