Staff at a controversial Dundee bar chain that has gone into liquidation have branded a move to a new firm under the same bosses “bizarre”.
Liquidators have been appointed for MacMerry 300, with all 63 employees made redundant by the company.
However their employment has been transferred over to Belford Limited, which will be acquiring MacMerry’s venues.
The Courier revealed on Wednesday how Belford has direct links to MacMerry 300 and founders AJ Mcmenemy and Phil Donaldson.
The acquisition of the Dundee pubs comes after a series of claims emerged from staff in January, including issues around pay and allegations that sexual misconduct allegations were not properly investigated.
That has partly been blamed for the collapse of MacMerry 300, with workers informed of the takeover by Belford in a letter signed by Mr Mcmenemy on Tuesday.
Keetah Konstant, who works at The Blue Room – one of the firm’s bars – said: “I don’t really understand what they’re doing because they’re going into liquidation and insolvency, but there’s a new company taking the venues over.
Nothing really has changed. It’s business as usual, but now we’re employed under a different company”
Worker Keetah Konstant
“We got a call and a letter about it saying we are now employed by Belford.
“It doesn’t seem like it’s anyone external of MacMerry, it seems to be mostly the same people in control.
“Nothing really has changed. It’s business as usual, but now we’re employed under a different company.
“It’s bizarre, I really don’t know what they’re doing.
“They could be trying to hide under a new name after the media attention, but I can only speculate.”
Concerns over pensions
Cheri O’Donnell, a bartender in the same venue, told The Courier: “I’ve not really noticed a decrease in sales and footfall, so I don’t think that’s affected the company.
“We had assurances from Phil that none of us would lose our jobs and the company would still exist.
“The only thing I was worried about was pensions for people who hadn’t had them paid.
“I don’t think there are any actual change so far, it seems like it’s still Phil and AJ and we’re still open and have the same shifts.”
Other former staff have said they are not surprised by the move.
Earlier this year, MacMerry 300 was accused of mistreating staff in a union-backed document listing more than 60 alleged wrongdoings.
A spokesman for Unite the union, which represents many of the workers, said: “Following discussions between Unite and Mr Donaldson, we have been assured that all of these workers are to be re-engaged to work for Belford Ltd, who will be taking over ownership of these bars.
Call to protect workers’ terms and conditions
“Our members have since received engagement letters to that effect from Belford director AJ Mcmenemy.
“We hope that Mr Donaldson and Mr Mcmenemy will continue to communicate with our members in a positive way and ensure that the terms and conditions of all workers will be protected.”
Mr Donaldson – who has previously spoken on behalf of MacMerry 300 – has been contacted for comment.
