Wetherspoon workers will be paid after change of heart
WORKERS at the Wetherspoon pub in Wick will be paid during the coronavirus lockdown following a change of heart by the company.
Boss Tim Martin was widely criticised after saying staff could take jobs with supermarkets during the closures.
Jamie Stone was one of 95 MPs who signed a letter calling on Mr Martin to have a rethink. The letter went viral and Wetherspoon then announced it would pay its staff during the coronavirus pandemic.
Mr Stone, the Liberal Democrat MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, signed the letter after several staff at the Alexander Bain pub in Wick contacted him to complain.
However, Mr Stone has now launched an online petition after discovering the company does not plan to pay its suppliers.
"This is a tragedy for distilleries in the north," he said.
Before launching the petition, Mr Stone said: "I am glad Wetherspoon took note of our campaign to pay workers – this is especially good news for those who work in Wick's Alexander Bain.
"However, this is not the end of it. It has come to my attention that Wetherspoon is now refusing to pay suppliers. This is bad news for the distilleries in the Highlands and I am determined to do something about it.
"I am asking all my constituents to join me in petitioning Tim Martin to pay his suppliers. If he can make a U-turn on wages, he can do it again for our distilleries."
Wetherspoon's chain of 850 UK pubs were closed by the Government announcement to shut bars and clubs to help stop the spread of coronavirus.
The company, which employs more than 40,000 staff, responded by saying it would not pay its workers during the lockdown, although it later changed its mind.
