Unite celebrates tips victory and welcomes new
hospitality code
1 October 2009
Unite the union has today (Thursday 1st October) welcomed the
victory for waiters and waitresses in their campaign to prevent the
hospitality sector from using tips and service charges being used
to pay staff the minimum wage.
Also today the union is pleased to welcome the launch of the
‘Code of Best Practice’ on service charges, tips, gratuities and
cover charges. The union was involved in the development of the
principles which aim to bring transparency to the hospitality
sector.
Unite has been campaigning since 2007 to have the loophole in
the minimum wage regulations closed. Unite ran a high profile
campaign highlighting the abhorrent practices by some rogue
employers which resulted in staff having all or much of the tips
left for them by customers taken by their bosses.
Tony Woodley, Unite joint general Secretary said: "Unite is
proud that the government has heeded the concerns of waiting staff
in their long running campaign to close the loophole in the minimum
wage regulations. Consumers were outraged when the union exposed
that some employers were using tips and service charges to uplift
the pay of staff to the minimum wage of £5.73. The change in the
regulations today will be welcomed by workers in restaurants, pubs
and hotels across the country."
Derek
Simpson, Unite joint general secretary said: "There is now an
urgent need for the hospitality industry to be transparent in how
they handle the tips and service charge money left for staff. The
Code launched today will help consumers see where the money left
for good service is going. Unite is looking to the sector to adhere
to the best practice principles and ensure that customers have the
information they need to make an informed choice before they leave
a tip or service charge. Unite wants to see the all employers sign
up to the Code and ensure that their staff and customers can be
confident that staff are treated fairly."
Unite has the Unite Fair Tips Charter which shows the
restaurants, hotels and pubs which have shown their commitment to
ensuring that tips and service charges are distributed fairly among
staff. Those who have signed up to the campaign display the green
fair tips sticker in their window.
A large number of establishments have signed up to the Fair Tips
Charter. You can view the establishments at: www.fairtips.org
The Unite Fair pay Charter
states that employers pledge to:
1. Pay all employees
at least the minimum wage with 100% of tips added on top as a bonus
with no hidden charges.
2. Reach agreement on how tips are shared with those staff
directly affected.
3. Make no deductions from tips or salaries to cover
breakages, till shortages or customer walk-outs.
4. Make all rules for the distribution of tips and service
charges available in writing for staff and customers on
request.
Ends -
For more information please contact: Saba Mozakka, Unite the
union at: 07768 693 953 or visit www.fairtips.org
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