FEELING BITTER

Aug 7 2008 by Mari Jones, North Wales Weekly News

FEELING BITTER

A BARMAID claims she has been discriminated against because she is 74.

Enid Clark worked at the George and Dragon in Conwy for more than 20 years, losing her job in June when the previous landlord sold the lease.

Now she says the new landlord has refused to take her back on because she is too old.

Her claim is denied by pub boss Graham Roberts, who says Enid missed out because he had better options.

Enid, who lives at Warren Road, Conwy, says the old landlord Tony Fisher sold the lease in June and told her she would be re-employed.

“For weeks I didn’t hear anything so I went to see Graham Roberts and asked for my three shifts back as I only worked there 16 hours a week,” she said.

“He told me he couldn’t give me the shifts. I’m convinced it’s because of my age. I went back to see him again was told to fill in an application form. It’s been a month now and I haven’t heard a thing.”

Enid says her regular punters are missing her and many have been to see her at the Mail Coach pub in Conwy, where she also works part-time, to ask when she is going back to the George.

“When you’ve worked behind a bar in the same place for over 20 years you get to know people,” she said.

“I loved my job but I feel I’ve been very shoddily treated and wouldn’t go back now even if they paid me double what I was getting.”

Mail Coach landlord Dave Fare says you will not find a more conscientious worker than Enid.

“In any one shift, six or eight people will come in for a drink just to see Enid,” he said. “I’ve given her extra shifts here. It’s their loss and our gain!”

Graham Roberts says he has done nothing wrong and was under no obligation to employ Enid.

“Tony Fisher terminated the employment of all the old staff on June 18 and I haven’t taken any of them back on,” he said. “Enid filled in an application form, but unfortunately didn’t make the shortlist. This has nothing to do with her age, I just had better applicants.”

mari.jones