March 31st is a national day of action against workfare. This ties in with the international days of action called by the International Workers Association (IWA) - which includes a general strike in Spain on March 29th - and the M31 European Day of Action Against Capitalism.
Since March the Solidarity Federation (SF) has been involved in supporting a victimised former Office Angels temporary worker. Dan worked for Office Angels for three days in December of last year. He was assured by the company that the lack of a time-sheet would 'not be a problem'. However, Office Angels are refusing to pay him the wages he is owed - falsely claiming he only worked for one day, despite them having called him at work on his third day.
[see 19 February 2025 Meghan Glover Follow @MM_newsonline] https://www.mancunianmatters.co.uk/news/19022025-almost-famous-no-notice...
A former employee of popular burger chain Almost Famous protested outside a partner restaurant in Manchester after his no-notice redundancy left him without pay for a month.
On January 27, Almost Famous made more than 110 employees redundant across their branches in Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool – with many only finding out about their redundancies via social media.
Outside of the Northern Quarter’s burger spot Super Awesome Deluxe – which is run by the Almost Famous team – members of Solidarity Federation Hospitality Workers’ Union handed out flyers to bring light to the recent struggles of the chain’s redundant workers.
Among them was a former Almost Famous employee who said he was made redundant from his role at the Great Northern restaurant without proper notice, and left without a month’s pay – which he is currently in the process of disputing.
He said: “We got a message from our head chef telling us that we had all been made redundant, with zero notice whatsoever.
“Some people got to the door and thought that they were working as normal, but were told they couldn’t get in because the business was in the process of becoming insolvent.”
Liverpool-based firm D2 has since acquired the keys to Almost Famous’ Manchester Northern Quarter restaurant – but not the Great Northern.
Asked if there was a possibility he may return to work there, the former employee said: “Wouldn’t go back myself as Almost Famous is tainted for me now, but can see why some people would.”
The SF Hospitality Workers’ Union said the inability of Almost Famous to pay its workers came just months after it opened Super Awesome Deluxe restaurant at the end of 2024.
Tony, from SF Hospitality Workers’ Union, said: “They went bankrupt, but they’ve got this [Super Awesome Deluxe] open.
“They knew they were going bankrupt a month before, and they had people working all that month.”
Almost Famous employees have been told to apply via an external company and the Government’s Redundancy Payment Services rather than receiving outstanding wages directly.
The SF Hospitality Workers’ Union has claimed that Almost Famous pooled its resources into Super Awesome Deluxe, and is now urging Almost Famous to ensure workers are paid what they are owed.
Almost Famous and Super Awesome Deluxe were contacted for comment.
Featured image: Manchester Almost Famous protest with SF Hospitality Workers’ Union by Meghan Glover
https://www.mancunianmatters.co.uk/news/19022025-almost-famous-no-notice...
On January 27th, over 110 employees at restaurant chain Almost Famous (Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool) were made redundant, tossed aside with zero consultation or notice. The owners were quick to inform the media but some staff only found out via social media.
Redundancy without notice is illegal. The owners of Almost Famous knew at least a fortnight beforehand about the pending insolvency, but kept staff in the dark, and monthly paid staff effectively worked for nothing in January. Rather than getting outstanding wages and holidays, staff were told to apply via an external company and the Government’s Redundancy Payment Services. The owners didn’t even bother to submit the details needed for staff to begin a claim.
They offered empty words about making the decision with “heavy hearts”, but “support” for their “extraordinary” staff amounted only to a few jobs in their new venture. Over 100 redundancies, yet they thought advertising less than a tenth of that was sufficient!
The question remains, what makes a worker “extraordinary” or worthy in the owners’ eyes? Their lack of care or support is repugnant, and empty words and gestures don’t hide the facts. They launched a new burger restaurant, Super Awesome Deluxe, in Manchester’s Northern Quarter in November, yet expect staff to believe they lack funds. They can fund secret raves with rappers at Super Awesome, so they’re capable of paying Famous staff their due. This supports the idea that Almost Famous sites were culled to pool resources into Super Awesome, a reprehensible action.
Solidarity Federation’s Hospitality Workers’ Union strongly condemns these heartless actions and will do all in our power to support staff treated so contemptuously by Almost Famous, applying pressure to the owners of Super Awesome Deluxe until these employees receive all payments owed. If you’ve been affected by the actions of the crooks behind Almost Famous, or want to get involved, please contact us:
SF Hospitality Workers’ Union – sfhwu@riseup.net
Manchester Solidarity Federation – mcrsolfed@gmailcom
Whether we’re working temporarily or permanently, with an agency, full or part-time, we have certain basic rights ...
Solidarity Federation welcomes the overwhelming support for strike action as voted by RMT members across the UK. In the face of some of the most repressive anti-strike legislation in Europe, rail workers have delivered a resounding message to both train bosses and union bureaucrats: the time for talking is over, a national strike now.
We are so used to landlords - and the power they have - that they can seem unchallengeable. They make profit from our need for a home, and using the courts and the police, can make us homeless. While the situation for tenants in the UK is dire - and looks to get worse under COVID-19 - we still have rights under the law and community power to protect us.
This sheet deals with Landlord Harassment. If you are having trouble with a Section 21 eviction or Rent Arrears check out our other guides. For ways to fight back without going through the courts, check our Stuff Your Landlord guide.
We are so used to landlords - and the power they have - that they can seem unchallengeable. They make profit from our need for a home, and using the courts and the police, can make us homeless. While the situation for tenants in the UK is dire - and looks to get worse under COVID-19 - we still have rights under the law and community power to protect us.
This sheet deals with Rent Arrears. If you are having trouble with Landlord Harassment or have been served a Section 21 notice check out our other guides. For ways to fight back without going through the courts, check our Stuff Your Landlord guide.
*Some Housing Associations use Assured Shorthold Tenancies as an introductory tenancy for the first year, so it’s good to check.
We are so used to landlords - and the power they have - that they can seem unchallengeable. They make profit from our need for a home, and using the courts and the police, can make us homeless. While the situation for tenants in the UK is dire - and looks to get worse under COVID-19 - we still have rights under the law and community power to protect us.
We are so used to landlords - and the power they have - that they can seem unchallengeable. They make profit from our need for a home, and using the courts and the police, can make us homeless.
While the situation for tenants in the UK is dire - and looks to get worse under COVID-19 - we still have rights under the law and community power to protect us.
This guide is brief primer on what we do and how we win.
For more in-depth guides on different aspects of housing law, click the links below.