Controversial Bingo Owner Has To Pay Up

Franco Lumba, a nightclub owner and Gala Bingo manager in Kingston has long been a name that people know about in the local community. There have been a lot of problems and difficulties with these clubs that Mr Lumba has been a regular feature in the local newspapers and even the courts. Then again, for all the big stories that have surrounded him, it seems as though there is a new story that may paint him in an even worse light with the local community.

Bingo boss needs to pay up

A tribunal has decided that Franco Lumba must pay a five-figure sum to Annmarie Harris, a 37 year old woman from Ascot. Not only was Ms Harris his former partner and mother to his daughter, she was also the manager of two clubs he ran. The Pink Gentleman’s Club and the Vanilla bar, both in Windsor, were managed by Ms Harris but she was fired for allegedly hitting Mr Lumba with a diary. Ms Harris was a former dancer and after her dismissal, she challenged the decision and took her employer, FT Trading to a tribunal. In the end, the tribunal decided to award Ms Marris with £26,000. The panel decided that Ms Harris was able to claim for unpaid wages and holiday pay. This is due to the fact that FT Trading never provided any written terms or conditions for her contract.

A sum of £17,770 was provided to Ms Harris for her earnings, £800 was provided as a basic rate sum after being sacked following two years of employment and a further £2,000 was provided with respect to lieu time and unpaid wages. Ms Harris was also able to receive £4,680 for holiday pay, a sum of £350 for a statutory rights payment and a further £800 for not being provided with written terms and conditions.

Ms Harris told the Daily Mail; “Those two clubs were my babies. I put everything I had into them. I worked 70 hours a week, six days a week. I gave it everything. To be sacked in the way it happened was unfair. I would have preferred to still be in the job because I know I did a good job.”

Given the publicity already surrounding hi, bingo boss Franco Lumba isn’t exactly looked upon fondly in the local community but this latest ruling may see his popularity dip even further.