Union leaders launch campaign for fair tips

27 September 2007 by
Union leaders launch campaign for fair tips

Union leaders are today launching a campaign calling on the Government to close the loophole that allows hospitality employers to use tips to make up the minimum wage.

Waiters and waitresses from hospitality operators across the capital will tell restaurant goers in London's West End to question the restaurant about where tips go as they launch their campaign for fair tips on World Tourism Day.

The Unite union will be picketing Smollenskys on the Strand and Pizza Express at Haymarket, leafleting customers to urge them to ask owners whether their money is going to staff who earn tips on top of their wages.

According to Unite, thousands of waiting staff have their minimum wage subsidised by tips given by customers for good service, often meaning they take a pay cut when on holiday or off sick

A Unite survey of waiting staff showed that the vast majority of restaurant employers take a cut of tips, and all rely on tips for their income. Many employers openly keep a chunk of service charge and credit card tips to boost profit margins, the survey suggested.

An employment tribunal earlier this month ruled that employers were allowed to use non-cash tips to make up minimum wage under Tronc regulations, but Unite is demanding that this loophole is closed.

Dave Turnbull, Unite regional industrial organiser, said: "Many customers would be horrified if they knew their service charge went towards paying hard-working waiters and waitresses the minimum wage, rather than rewarding good service.

"Tips and service charges should always be considered an addition to a decent living wage. As well as urging a change in the minimum wage law that allows employers to take advantage, customers can also help by asking the restaurant where the tips go," he added.

Tips can count towards minimum wage, finds tribunal >>

Carluccio's slammed for paying less than minimum wage >>

Stick to paying young people minimum wage to avoid legal action >>

Hotels face crackdown on minimum wage >>

Hospitality workers in London should be paid more than national minimum wage >>

By Daniel Thomas

E-mail your comments to Daniel Thomas here.

The Caterer Blog](http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/catering-news-blog/) Catch up with more news and gossip on the Caterer Blog here
[Newswire For the latest hospitality news, sign up for our e-mail news alerts.
The Caterer Breakfast Briefing Email

Start the working day with The Caterer’s free breakfast briefing email

Sign Up and manage your preferences below

Check mark icon
Thank you

You have successfully signed up for the Caterer Breakfast Briefing Email and will hear from us soon!

Jacobs Media is honoured to be the recipient of the 2020 Queen's Award for Enterprise.

The highest official awards for UK businesses since being established by royal warrant in 1965. Read more.

close

Ad Blocker detected

We have noticed you are using an adblocker and – although we support freedom of choice – we would like to ask you to enable ads on our site. They are an important revenue source which supports free access of our website's content, especially during the COVID-19 crisis.

trade tracker pixel tracking