Unite: London restaurant workers back sacked manager

Unite: London restaurant workers back sacked manager

Unite: London restaurant workers back sacked manager

Restaurant and bar workers will protest this week in London in support of a manager sacked by the Pizza Express restaurant chain for joining a trade union demonstration calling for fair distribution of restaurant tips. They’re urging diners in the capital to boycott Pizza Express.

Nabil Guirguis had worked with Pizza Express since the 1990s, and had joined the demonstration by members of Unite the union on World Tourism Day last September to urge restaurant customers to ask owners how money paid for service charges was being handled. The company dismissed him for talking to the media about the company practice of deducting an 8 per cent ‘administrative charge’ from tips left for waiters on customer credit cards.

“We have been shocked at this disgraceful treatment of Nabil Guirguis,” said Unite regional industrial organiser Dave Turnbull. “He has been sacked for exercising his right to free speech and for taking part in legitimate trade union activity.

“Nabil has been a loyal employee at Pizza Express for close to twenty years. In fact, when he joined our demonstration in September and was interviewed by the media, he was at pains to defend some of the aspects of the company’s handling of service charges, while also expressing sympathy with our members’ concerns.

“We believe a restaurant which treats a decent worker in this way does not deserve to be patronised by Londoners who believe in fair play.”

Unite members will demonstrate at the Charing Cross branch of Pizza Express next Friday (March 14) at 5.00 p.m.

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Further information: Dave Turnbull 07980 721 427

Unite media office 020 7611 2550

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