Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Bar staff stage protest against their employer
BAR staff in dispute with bosses at the MacMerry 300 pub chain branded the company’s response to numerous allegations as “childish”.
Current and former employees attended a protest organised by Unite the Union on the Nethergate in Dundee yesterday afternoon.
The chain, which runs popular venues Bird & Bear, Nola, Draffens, Blue Room, Franks, the King of Islington, and Abandon Ship, is accused of including covering up a Covid-19 outbreak, bullying, pay problems and failing to investigate sexual misconduct.
Employees said they have been left disappointed by MacMerry 300 bosses since the claims were made public.
Bird & Bear bartender Ewan McCallum, 23, said: “The last week has been really stressful, we didn’t expect such a backlash from the company.
“I want them to pay everyone that they’re due, I want them to investigate the allegations that have come forward, we want them to pay us a proper wage for what we’re expected to do.”
More than 50 current or former employees signed a letter last Friday addressed to directors of the firm, outlining the complaints.
MacMerry 300 has rejected all claims and says it is willing to discuss any genuine grievances or concerns.
Prior to yesterday’s protest, MacMerry director Phil Donaldson allegedly contacted staff to ask them not to take part in anything that could impact the business, warning he may have to permanently shut some bars in the city if the dispute continues.
Brittany Varney, a 23-year-old supervisor at Franks, believes staff should have a right to fight for their rights.
“I think they’re saying this protest is a threat against them, it’s not, it’s for hospitality as a whole,” she said.
She added: “There’s a lot of evidence against them and the fact they are just denying everything is infuriating.
“We’re asking for things that should have been fixed months ago and we’re asking for simple legal thing like contracts.
“None of us want to see the company go down, all of us love the company that we work for, we love the people that we work with, but if they’re not willing to fix these things then that’s their own fault.”
MacMerry 300 bosses are due to meet with Unite next week after Mr Donaldson said in his latest statement he is willing to meet staff and union representatives at “any time”.
Draffens employee, Keetah Donstant, 22, said she hopes MacMerry 300 staff fighting for their rights in Dundee is “setting an example” to other hospitality workers.
“A lot of us care very much and we love working in these bars, we think they’re wonderful and I guess that makes it more heartbreaking that we don’t get treated right,” she said.
“I’m just really hoping that we do inspire this to happen because lots of industries have a union and I don’t understand why hospitality should be any different, I don’t understand why can’t have the same rights.”
Mr Donaldson said: “There is nothing we would like more than to be able to address the allegations levelled against us and to have the opportunity to take any positive action which may be required.
“We are willing to meet with staff and their union representatives any time, and have been making this point since the allegations were made a week ago.
“My plea to colleagues is to come to the table.
“Bring Unite Hospitality with you and let’s have a constructive discussion so we can move forward together and get back to doing what we all do well.
“I spoke honestly, however, in saying this last week has been incredibly damaging to trade, following almost two years of disruption for the whole sector as a result of the pandemic.”
Dundee West MP Chris Law tweeted after the protest to say he has written to MacMerry 300 and Abandon Ship Ltd to “raise a number of grievances” brought to him over the last week.
The tweet continued: “These allegations are very serious, and it is vital that staff can be heard and should face no repercussions for raising them.”