Crowdfund launched to support workers after Glasgow bar closes in union dispute

Trade union Unite Hospitality has raised over £4,000 as part of a crowdfund to support workers facing redundancy after the sudden closure of 13th Note bar in Glasgow.

The campaign has raised over 75% of its £5,000 target in less than 24 hours since it launched yesterday (19 July).

Staff at the bar began four weeks of weekend walkouts from 14 July in a dispute over pay and safety concerns.

Strike action went ahead as planned last week after workers said the bar failed "to deal with concerns” from workers.

However, Unite Hospitality, which represents 95% of the workers at the venue, claimed the bar's owner Jacqueline Fennessy liquidated the business “with immediate effect” yesterday (19 July), two hours before a scheduled ACAS meeting with representatives.

Bryan Simpson, lead for Unite Hospitality, said: “To close a workplace and sack more than 20 people is both trade union intimidation and with only one week of wages and less than 30 days’ notice is also unlawful – plain and simple."

Fennessy told the BBC she was “devastated” at the closure of the venue after 21 years and claimed it had been “driven to insolvency” by the union campaign.

She said 18 jobs would be lost, but Unite disputed the figure and said it would impact 21 staff.

Fennessy also denied there were health and safety issues and said staff were paid above the living wage.

The Unite Hospitality crowdfund, which has been supported by over 100 people, will be used to help workers facing “immediate hardships as the result of job losses”.

Contributions will also support Unite's camapign "to reclaim [the] venue and livelihoods,” the union said.

13th Note has been contacted for comment.