Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Pub chain under fire from unhappy staff
A DUNDEE pub chain at the centre of Covidrelated health concerns is facing accusations bosses failed to deal with sexual harassment complaints as well as basic hygiene and safety issues.
Current and former staff have accused management at Macmerry300 and Abandon Ship Ltd of more than 60 grievances in a union-backed letter.
The brand is responsible for Abandon Ship, Bird & Bear, Nola, Draffens, the King of Islington, the Blue Room and Franks.
The letter, backed by the union Unite Hospitality, details an atmosphere in which sexual misconduct was allegedly ignored by company management.
It is on top of a long list of claims including allegations bosses tried to cover up a Christmas Covid-19 outbreak and pressured staff into working when they may be infected with the virus.
Workers claim upper management also fostered a sexist atmosphere, where sexual comments are often made to employees. The company has been accused of failing to ban “predatory customers and former staff members” from venues.
Staff have also accused Dundee bar bosses of failing to support those who suffer such bullying or sexual harassment, as “there is no widely known HR”.
The letter also claimed there have been a variety of health and safety breaches, including food stored in cellars instead of the fridge due to a lack of space.
It says staff were expected to deal with flooding issues, including removing “biohazards such as human faeces”, though the specific venues this relates to are not mentioned in the document.
Ewan McCallum, 22, a bartender at Bird & Bear, said: “There’s an ice machine on a back stairway for service staff at the King of Islington and the light didn’t work for a time.”
Cheri O’Donnell, 24, a bartender in Draffens, said:
“There’s so much on the stairway, like coats, ladders and insulation and you’re carrying heavy, slippery ice.”
Employees said they are regularly paid late or irregularly, and many do not receive payslips.
Many also allegedly do not have contracts and claim they often do not get legally required breaks.
A spokesperson for MacMerry300 said: “Hospitality is a highly regulated industry where staff and customer safety is paramount.
“We utterly refute the claims made and will be consulting with staff immediately to find out why allegations may have been levelled. We are, of course, also willing to discuss any genuine grievances or concerns.”