A Glasgow venue is to shut down “until working conditions are improved” after staff filed a formal grievance over a litany of health and safety failures, pay, and contractual issues.
Workers at Broadcast, on the city’s Sauchiehall Street, were told it would “close with immediate effect” until the union are satisfied following a meeting between five staff members, their Unite representative, and Paul Cardow who operates the venue.
It comes after 11 members of staff pointed out “dangerous” levels of mould and rot in certain parts of the building, described as “some of the worst breaches of health and safety” the union had ever dealt with.
The meeting on Wednesday, July 13 lasted for more than four hours and resulted in “frank, open and positive negotiations” with “a pathway to resolve” the issues, a representative from Unite said.
An email, seen by STV News, sent from Mr Cardow to staff read: “After a frank, open, and positive meeting today with five representatives of Broadcast Union and their Unite official, we agreed on a pathway to resolving the grievances and Health and Safety concerns.
“This involves carrying out extensive works in the building to address the mould and AC, as well as dealing with security issues. This means that Broadcast will need to close with immediate effect until working conditions are improved and the union are satisfied. I hope this will not be a prolonged period, but I cannot give assurances right now.”
Mr Cardow stated that he would let staff know “as soon as possible” when Broadcast was to reopen, adding “I may need to call on a small amount of staff to assist during this period.”
He added that it was his “intention that staff will be paid their wages” during the period of closure with full time staff members receiving 35-40 hours per week and part time staff on 20-25 hours per week.
Mr Cardow also runs Sneaky Pete’s in Edinburgh and the Stag and Dagger festival in Glasgow.
The letter sent to management stated staff were exposed to “black mould” in the office and toilets.
It also alleges failures in payment of holiday wages, sick pay and outstanding wages or issue staff contracts.
A Unite spokesman said: “After more than four hours of frank, open, and positive negotiations between the owner of Broadcast and our lead reps there, we have agreed a pathway to resolve the health, safety and security issues as well as the outstanding contractual issues.
“We have firm commitments in writing from Cardow that extensive work will now be carried out in the building to address the mould and air-conditioning as well as resolving long-standing security issues.
“This means that Broadcast will need to close with immediate effect until working conditions are improved and the union are satisfied. During this time, all workers will be paid their full wage.”
A spokesperson for Broadcast said: “We had a frank and open meeting with five representatives of Broadcast Union and their Unite representatives, and we have agreed on a positive pathway to resolve their concerns.
“Broadcast will close with immediate effect to carry out improvement works on the building and will reopen when all parties are satisfied that working conditions have improved. Urgent steps are also being taken to resolve the other issues raised by staff.
“We hope the closure will not be for a prolonged period, but we cannot yet say when it will reopen. Staff will be paid their wages during this time.”
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