Boycott Byron in Glasgow: Glaswegians urged to take a stand over burger chain's links to Home Office immigration raid
Burger fans are calling for a boycott of the chain's West George Street premises, claiming they "deceived potentially vulnerable workers into immigration traps."
Gregor Kyle
Byron on West George Street (Image: Media Scotland)
Glaswegians are being asked to join #BoycottByron and stay away from the burger chain's West Regent Street restaurant over their involvement in a government investigation that snared 'illegal' workers.
The company, which has restaurants across the UK, has found itself at the heart of a storm after setting up what was purportedly a training day for migrant staff from their London venues. However, according to a report first published in Spanish news site El Iberico , when workers arrived they were confronted by Home Office officials.
Armed with a list of names and photographs, they identified those who did not have the required documentation. During the operation, officers arrested 35 people from Albania, Brazil, Nepal and Egypt for immigration offences. It has been reported that a further 150 have gone into hiding.
The revelations have led to widespread criticism of the company with the hashtag #BoycottByron being used on social media.
Inside Byron's Glasgow restaurant (Image: Media Scotland)
Now people in Glasgow are calling for burger fans in the city to join the protest.
Among the calls to action was a post on the Free Pride Facebook page which read: "We are disgusted that Byron has deceived potentially vulnerable workers into immigration traps. We believe no human is illegal and continue to support all migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. We hope to see a future were all people feel welcome and are not exploited. We would urge everybody to ‪#‎BoycottByron‬ branches (e.g. on West George Street in Glasgow) and join any protests happening in your community."
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There was also a call to action with the Radical Glasgow Facebook page hoping that people would rally outside the venue at 6pm tonight (July 29) when other protests are taking place outside across the UK.
"They've grassed on dozens of their own undocumented workers to the Home Office, all of whom are now facing deportation. There's one on West George St. Any interest in a local demo for Friday evening?"
The company's Glasgow restaurant opened in March this year and became the latest combatant in what has been dubbed the city's 'burger war', with a slew of joints opening in the city centre. How this protest will impact on their business remains to be seen.
Byron are responsible for ensuring that all staff have correct documentation before hiring.
Byron at 100 West George Street in Glasgow (Image: Media Scotland)
However, the company will not face any civil penalty action from the Home Office, having carried out the correct 'right to work' checks on staff members and been shown false or counterfeit documentation.
A Home Office spokesperson told Glasgow Live: "Immigration Enforcement officers carried out intelligence-led visits to a number of Byron restaurants across London on July 4, arresting 35 people for immigration offences.
"The operation was carried out with the full co-operation of the business."
Meanwhile a press release from Byron has revealed that they will continue to work with immigration officials and aid their 'investigations'.
"We can confirm that several of Byron's London restaurants were visited by representatives of the Home Office. These visits resulted in the removal of members of staff who are suspected by the Home Office of not having the right to work in the UK, and of possessing fraudulent personal and right to work documentation that is in breach of immigration and employment regulation."
The statement continued: "At Byron we are proud of the diversity of our restaurant teams, built around people of all backgrounds and all walks of life.
"We have cooperated fully and acted upon the Home Office's requests throughout the course of the investigations leading to this action, and will continue to do so."
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