Little sympathy for boss of pub
In last week’s Observer, we told how staff at the recently-shut Boozy Cow, King Street, Stirling, had written a stinging letter to the business’s millionaire owner, philanthropist Garreth Wood.
They complained the pub, run on social enterprise lines with profits going to charity, employed workers on zero hours contracts and the minimum wage and failed to take advantage of business opportunities in Stirling.
Mr Wood later said zero hours contracts were “symptomatic”of the hospitality industry but admitted he did not react quickly enough to eradicate the practice in Boozy Cow, Stirling.
Mr Wood, son of oil tycoon Sir Ian Wood, said if staff had raised issues with him sooner, he would have tried to address them.
He said he had to make “difficult decisions“for the good of the company– which also had outlets in Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen – and generated £650,000 over three years to Scottish charities. The story prompted a number of Facebook comments:
Richard O Caireallain said:“The Stirling market is just not able to support hospitality businesses of this scale and type. Not at the moment anyway. There is not a big enough population and a large percentage of the population are students. It’s a shame to see so many places close and for so many to be caught up in it. I hope the former employees find other work soon.”
Andrew Szwebs posted: “Actions speak louder than words Mr Wood. Now use some of that wealth of yours to properly compensate the staff who believed in you, your altruistic philosophy, and who tried so hard to make your business in Stirling a success. They deserve better.”
Catriona McKenna: commented “If he is genuinely sorry, he could cough up”.
Duchart Bruce said:“It’s a cop out for the owner to say that the staff should have raised it with him.”
•In last Friday’s Observer, we told how vandals had smashed more that 30 windows in Bannockburn House, the 346-year-old A-listed property last year acquired by a trust with a view to restoration and turning it into an asset for the community.
Sharon Paterson said: “Make the parents of those responsible pay for the broken windows. Also make the darlings help restore or do any work around it. Maybe then they will appreciate it more.”
Norman Graham posted:“I think we need too get tougher with young ones now. Stricter punishment is needed now and even a spell in boot camp for discipline. Time to wind these young ones back in.”
Archie Ferguson added:“I cannot believe the kids who have done this don’t know that this is for them and the community. Perhaps the parents could mention this to them and maybe police should go to all the schools and warn them about vandalism.”
Anne Salmond:“What a shame and so disheartening for all the volunteers involved.”