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[MMarston]

Two London branches of Byron have been forced to close after protesters released hundreds of live insects into the restaurants, part of a growing backlash following the burger chain’s involvement in an immigration sting against its own staff. Activists from two organisations, London Black Revs and Malcolm X Movement, let out a “swarm of insects” in Byron’s Shaftesbury Avenue and Holborn restaurants on Friday evening.

Other protesters picketed restaurants over the weekend and #boycottbyron has been circulating on Twitter.

Immigration officers rounded up 35 people from Albania, Brazil, Egypt and Nepal in the raid, which took place across London on the morning of 4 July, the Home Office has confirmed. Staff were allegedly told to attend a health and safety meeting at 9.30am, but immigration officials quickly arrived instead.Staff were allegedly told to attend a health and safety meeting at 9.30am, but immigration officials quickly arrived instead.

In a joint statement published on Facebook, London Black Revs and Malcolm X Movement said the direct action was in response to the chain’s “despicable actions in the past weeks having entrapped waiters, back of house staff and chefs in collaboration with UK Border Agency”.

“Many thousands of live cockroaches, locusts and crickets [have been released] into these restaurants. We apologise to customers and staff for any irritation, however, we had to act as forced deportations such as this and others are unacceptable, we must defend these people and their families from such dehumanised treatment,” the statement said.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news...roaches-and-locusts-at-burger-chain?CMP=fb_gu

...if old.

 

[iPaul93]

This will definitely help the immigrants.

Spoiler

/s

 

[Audioboxer]

Not sure where to stand here. It is illegal to employ illegal immigrants... Plus it sounds like the places treated their staff terribly. Then they grass on the same folks they employed?

Just a complete shit show all round. Places should be shut down permanently just for being terrible.

 

[Slackbladder]

I assume Byron were given the choice to 'hand the illegals' over to save themselves from prosecution. If that was the case I hope the company folds.

 

[Audioboxer]

I assume Byron were given the choice to 'hand the illegals' over to save themselves from prosecution. If that was the case I hope the company folds.

Pretty much. They shouldn't be given that choice. Actions need consequences. I empathise with the illegals from the point of view they should be treated honestly and not led down a false sense of security. Might sound tough but as much as I'm for immigration and the EU we do need some laws and policies in place to protect our own people. Not protect companies who exploit people then get a free out of jail card for turning them in after they've no doubt practically worked for free.

Illegals are usually paid cash in hand as well and they/the businesses end up not contributing to the tax pool. Again might sound harsh against people desperately just trying to survive but it all adds up and its why we have so many companies doing cash in hand and illegally employing in the first place. They largely get away with it, and then can do shit like this when they get caught.

 

[echoshifting]

I'm not endorsing it, but this sounds like a tremendously effective form of protest.

 

[Kathian]

This shit is mental. What are they even protesting? The legal system?

 

[Niago]

The Daily Mash sums this one up nicely.

 

[Audioboxer]

The Daily Mash sums this one up nicely.

The issue is the employer clearly knew what they were doing and to simply get an out of jail free card because they agreed to grass everyone up when seemingly caught is a shoddy precedent to set.

So the business is just as much to blame if not more for the illegal immigrants lying or cheating the system. They clearly wanted employment for next to nothing and to exploit the vulnerable in the first place.

Its fine crying wolf after you've been caught, that's the easy part. Being a legitimate company in the first place is the seemingly hard part for many businesses in the UK. Usually those in the food industry who seem to have a hard on for abusing staff and asking for zero hour contracts/illegal immigrants.

 

[starchild excalibur]

If the employer knew they were hiring illegal immigrants then fuck them - they're part of the problem and are simply trying to save face.

If they the applicants lied on their resume and they were later discovered to be illegal then they should have just fired them.

 

[daviyoung]

so they got busted and scapegoated the staff?

shame, I enjoyed their burgers but there are hundreds of other options in London so no big loss

 

[Bony Manifesto]

No human is illegal? Is this some sovereign citizen shit?

 

[King_Moc]

And the problem is? I don't want people to be forcing wages down and not paying any tax, thanks. Though surely the restaurant must have done this on purpose before being found out and bargaining with the Border Agency?

 

[Audioboxer]

No human is illegal? Is this some sovereign citizen shit?

Heart in the right place, head not thinking logically about this one. As I said above the better situation is for the country to be honest and respectful in that we don't lead illegals down a path of false employment hopes to then report them after they've gotten comfortable (I say comfortable but obviously you know the businesses in question are exploiting and abusing them). From point A we should be making it clear if you come here you come legally.

Businesses making this message murky should be clamped down on hard. Not given a high five when they decide to grass everyone up because a tip off or something meant the government was coming to investigate.

And the problem is? I don't want people to be forcing wages down and not paying any tax, thanks. Though surely the restaurant must have done this one purpose before being found out and bargaining with the Border Agency?

Of course they knew. They'll have been paying cash in hand. You don't pay cash in hand to people registered to work legally in the UK. Or at least you shouldn't be as that itself is illegal for a business.

And you can't pay properly to people here illegally as they don't have a national insurance number/etc.

 

[Mammoth Jones]

No human is illegal? Is this some sovereign citizen shit?

Yea, this is where I kinda get lost in this debate. Because nations have a right not to have an open border policy. If that's what they want then they should change the law.

As far as the "protest" I don't agree with it or condone it but it sounds like they really fucked their people over. So hard to see them getting much sympathy.

 

[Z3K]

I just don't understand how these people were being employed by Byron, don't you need a UK bank account and NI number to get paid in this country?
Surely Byron wasn't paying these people cash in hand?

 

[Audioboxer]

I just don't understand how these people were being employed by Byron, don't you need a UK bank account and NI number to get paid in this country?
Surely Byron wasn't paying these people cash in hand?

That is exactly what they were doing. Happens a lot in the food industry. Especially fast food and high street restaurants like Indians/Chinese takeaways.

As you pointed out yourself you literally can't pay them legally.

The Government doesn't usually bother its ass until they get tip offs I guess they have to respond to. Or maybe in certain parts of the country they are proactive. Without a doubt though lots of food places are let slide when it's clear as day there's cash in hand and possibly illegal immigrants "employed".

Considering the tax evasion that is let slide on the corporate scale is it any surprise in the UK they can't be arsed with takeaways and some restaurant chains?

 

[Bony Manifesto]

Businesses making this message murky should be clamped down on hard. Not given a high five when they decide to grass everyone up because a tip off or something meant the government was coming to investigate.

I'm inclined to agree. That there were 35 people working illegally (that they caught - presumably there were more) signifies a pattern rather than a few isolated incidents of not checking paperwork thoroughly enough. And if that's the case, surely there has to be criminal charges involved, no matter if the company co-operated with the investigation or not.

 

[Audioboxer]

I'm inclined to agree. That there were 35 people working illegally (that they caught - presumably there were more) signifies a pattern rather than a few isolated incidents of not checking paperwork thoroughly enough. And if that's the case, surely there has to be criminal charges involved, no matter if the company co-operated with the investigation or not.

Yup. They are jobs that legal UK citizens could have worked and contributed into the system. But no, the company wants to avoid paying a minimum wage and abuse illegals...

Sure they might not be the best jobs in the world but that is not the point.

 

[John Kowalski]

I just don't understand how these people were being employed by Byron, don't you need a UK bank account and NI number to get paid in this country?
Surely Byron wasn't paying these people cash in hand?

Surely not.

 

[RS4-]

Fuck Byron. Forgot to make a thread about it a few weeks ago when a friend mentioned it. Take advantage and exploit workers for a few years. Then get them rounded up.

Fuck them.

 

[Trojita]

 

[zpiders]

I bet the people who released the bugs are Corbyn supporters....

 

[kess]

Don't buzz, vote