Burger bar's apology after social media post said public sector strikers 'should try being self employed'

​A burger bar has issued an apology over a contentious critique of Thursday’s strike action.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

​The original message, which was posted on the Facebook accounts of the Belfast Burger Company, said: “Don’t worry we are not on strike…

“I was chatting to a friend and fellow small business owner just the other day he made a very good point. It’s us small businesses that should be on strike against the government and big energy companies etc.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"Government workers on strike for pay rise – what about us working night and day barely making a living after we pay the basic bills, pay the increasing minimum wage (and I don’t think minimum wage is enough or fair reflection on people’s work ethic), pay increased prices for produce, pay extortionate rates and still try to make a living?

Picture by Kelvin Boyes / PressEye - Belfast city centre during Northern Ireland's January 18 strikePicture by Kelvin Boyes / PressEye - Belfast city centre during Northern Ireland's January 18 strike
Picture by Kelvin Boyes / PressEye - Belfast city centre during Northern Ireland's January 18 strike

"Often us self employed make much less than the minimum wage when calculated per hour of work we do?

"Government workers working 40 hours a week all the perks that come with each role, bus drivers couple of weeks ago 40 hour weeks sitting on their bums in a job they choose knowing the pay.

"I would like to see half these people on strike do a week in hospitality or self-employed they would all go back to their jobs thinking twice how easy they have it”.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The message provoked a strong reaction online and the post was removed on Thursday evening.

Other recent articles by this reporter:

‘POST WAS TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT’:

A further message was posted online later on Thursday night, saying that no offence was intended and that the business owner would like to “apologise to anyone who found it offensive”.

It said: “Well as it’s clear there was a post regarding today’s strikes and strikes held few weeks ago...

"The post was not aimed to cause offence, nor was it intended in any way to demonstrate in any way that I do not support public service workers in any field. It is very easy for words to be taken way out of their intended context.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"That’s the reason I removed the post; not to shy away from it. But it is clear it was being taken well out of the context it was intended.

“I openly apologise to anyone who found it offensive or discouraging for them standing up for what they believe.

"I never said or intended for it to be understood I am against strikes, people have the right to stand up and be heard on all matters that they believe in.”

It went on to add: "The post openly said I do not think the minimum wage is enough to reflect the cost of living or the work ethic behind each person who goes to work in any field.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“My ignorance in the fact I have never worked any other sector other than hospitality which many will know soldier on.

"There is no such thing as being in a trade union, or very little.

"If there is it’s something I personally have never had any involvement, therefore it has been up to me threw out [sic] my career if I want more money to go hunt that higher paid job or work the crazy hours of that many work to take home higher pay – of course, not before getting screwed by tax for the extra hard earned money.”

The post also added that “from day one there has been discount in place for emergency service workers, and many meals for staff at the local hospital have been donated free of charge as a gesture from me to acknowledge the hard work they do”.

ONLINE SUPPORT – AND OBJECTIONS – TO STRIKE:

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A large number of people responding on Twitter were critical of the company’s initial statement.

Among them was Brenda Gough (@BelfastBre, 9,000 followers, whose profile reads: ‘Socialist and paid up member of the Sisterhood. I say 'f**k' a lot’) who said:

“Why is Belfast Burger Company chain issuing vile statements against workers having to take the biggest strike action we've seen for 50 years, here? “Doesn't this business understand people are fighting for their lives and the survival of our infrastructures?”

Brendan Harkin (@brendanjharkin, a photographer with 12,000 followers) said:

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The only thing I have to say about that Belfast Burger Company statement is that I hope any employees join a union.”

The Belfast Urbanist (@BelfastUrbanist, a 24-year-old with they/them pronouns who is Young Greens Ireland NI Organiser, 1,100 followers) wrote:

“Taking a pot shot at 100,000 potential customers who have walked out to demand the pay rises they are long overdue has to be one of the least intelligent business decisions I've ever seen.”

Not all were critical.

Oakland Niner (@SirJamesNiner, 439 followers) said:

“Belfast Burger company right. Greedy public sector workers; in unsackable jobs, with appalling sick records and fat cat pensions. While ordinary working people struggle in the cold. And these selfish leeches wouldn’t even grit roads, leaving old people at risk…”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In terms of reaction to the strike in general, whilst virtually all politicians have come out in favour of the strike, and whilst much of the discourse online was pro-strike, there were a number of dissenting voices.

Cllr Russ(ell) Bott (1,000 followers, @RussIanBott4):

"So what have we learned from today's strike? Most political reps haven't an original thought between them when tweeting 'solidarity', and public services are likely to be affected next week by thousands ringing in with 'the flu' due to collective poncing around in the frost.”

CaucasianMale (800 followers, @CaucasianMale3):

"Ex public sector for over 30years. Yes they have valid concerns, but risking lives is wrong. For this to be dressed up as anything other than money before lives is a smoke screen. Who is suffering? Unions don’t care.”

N / NW (@PrisonerNn4603, 300 followers):

“Holding the public to ransom, treating us like pawns in your dispute. Exactly what you’re accusing the Gvmt and DUP of doing. No difference #Hypocrites”

Dave bucko (900 followers, @KyleMoo49223300):

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"Nurses I agree with, but the rest? Nah ain't having it with their mad demands.”

Ken (@johnston_ken, 170 followers):

"Nice to see that they’re on the march in the cold – do hope they don’t slip on ungritted roads and that they don’t need their a***s plastered at A&E - keep striking and save the economy some money.”

Joanne m (900 followers, @joannem94981348):

"The civil service in NI was supposed to be reduced as per the GFA however as with most public services it wastes a fortune every year. The unions want more money despite year on year value for taxpayer reducing. Move to a rewards based pay system pay the best the most.”

Related topics: