Unite: Waiters and waitresses demand ‘Fair Tips’ to mark closure of government consultation
Waiters and waitresses from across the hospitality industry will today (Wednesday 11th February) demand the government takes action to ensure staff get 100% of tips as the consultation into tips and service charges closes.
Independent research released today reveals that 94% of customers feel strongly that that all tips “should always go to the staff with no deductions by restaurant owners”. The research was conducted by YouGov for Consumer Focus.
Members of Unite from hotels, bars and restaurants will visit the House of Commons to send a message to government that the loophole in the minimum wage regulations, which allows companies to use tips and service charges to top up salaries to minimum wage, must be closed and a more transparent tipping system be enforced.
Len McCluskey, Unite Assistant General Secretary, says: “The message from workers and consumers to the government on tips is undeniably strong. The Unite campaign for fair tips has established that everyone, except greedy bosses, believe that tips and service charges belong to the hard working staff.
“The government must ensure employers in the hospitality industry give a decent living wage with 100% of tips added on top. This sector has so far failed to demonstrate its commitment to a fair and transparent tipping system. We can not continue to allow them to abuse customer generosity.
“Unite members will welcome the closing of the loophole which allows restaurant staff to be paid less than the minimum wage and then make up the difference with tips. But the government must go further and outlaw companies that take a cut of staff tips. A tip is a reward for good service and it should go directly to the people who earned it.”
Ed Mayo, Chief Executive of Consumer Focus, says: “We are pleased to join Unite in this common sense campaign, and welcome the news that Government is to close the loophole that allows companies to use tips left by diners for waiting staff to top up the National Minimum Wage.
“An overwhelming 94% of diners want the tips they leave for waiting staff to go to them in full, with no deductions by restaurant owners. We call on these businesses to meet the expectations of their customers by signing up to the Fair Tips Charter.”
After the photo opportunity members of Unite will go to the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) to hand in the union’s consultation response and a petition from the public in support of the fair tips campaign.
In a photo opportunity, which mocks up a scene in a restaurant, members from the union working in hotels, bars and restaurants will demand that the government gives them fair tips and not allow the industry to continue to take the money customers leave for those who have served them.
Ends
For more information on the photo opportunity or the Unite response to the consultation please contact Saba Mozakka, Unite Press Office on 020 7420 8916 or 07768 693 953.
Notes to Editors
Unite launched the Fair Tips campaign in 2008. For more information on the campaign please visit: www.unitetheunion.com/fairtips
The research by YouGov was commissioned by Consumer Focus. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2187 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 9th – 12th January 2009. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).
The Consumer Focus website can be viewed at: www.consumerfocus.org.uk
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