FORMER staff at Glasgow’s 13th Note bar are urging the council to back its plans for workers’ ownership.
The venue, renowned for launching the careers of numerous live acts in the city, was the scene of a historic strike last year after its owner, Jaqueline Fennessy, refused to meet workers’ demands for a safe work environment and fair pay
Just weeks later, the owner filed for insolvency and summarily sacked more than 20 workers, with no consultation or compensation.
Last month, workers and their union, Unite Hospitality, successfully challenged the owners’ action at tribunal, winning the maximum legal compensation.
Now they are determined that the venue will reopen under workers’ control.
Already having raised more than £12,000 in crowdfunding efforts, the workers are now urging the public to back them and sign a petition urging City Property, Glasgow’s City Council’s property arm, to grant them the lease to reopen.
Former 13th Note workers and Unite Hospitality activist Nick Troy told the Star: “The council have an opportunity to go against the grain.
“Glasgow can be an example to others in how to support the hospitality sector and its workers.
“We know that if this just goes down the usual commercial route, the odds are that we’ll end up with yet another premises that doesn’t adhere to the practices we hear about in the Fair Work Convention that politicians claim they support.
“City Property are an arms-length part of the council and should be concerned with promoting public good, not commercial cowboys.
“I’d urge everyone to sign our petition to back our crowd funder, sign our petition, and make sure that the 13th Note has a future as a venue that values its workers.”
City Property was contacted for comment.
