Waiters and waitresses demand fair pay in Norwich
23 July 2008
Unite members working in Norwich as waiters and waitresses will
tomorrow (Thursday 24th July) take their campaign for fair tips to
the city centre.
As part of the Unite Fair Tips campaign the staff from a range
of restaurants and hotels will be leafleting members of the public
to urge them to support their campaign for the government to close
the legal loophole in the minimum wage regulations. The loophole
allows employers to use tips and service charges left by customers
to top up employees pay to the minimum wage, £5.52.
Workers will be asking: "Why are we waiting?" in order to raise
awareness of the scams that some establishments utilise which mean
that staff do not receive the tips customers leave for them.
Unite Regional Industrial Organiser, Dave Turnbull said:
"Waiters and waitress will be asking people in Norwich to sign
their petition which demands that the loophole in the minimum wage
law is closed.
"Unite believe that customers in Norwich deserve to be able to
tip with confidence. Waiters and waitresses will be asking the
public to ensure that they question restaurant and hotel managers
so that they can be sure that the money they leave is going to the
hard-working member of staff who it is intended for.
"Unite is calling on restaurants and hotels in the city to sign
up to the Fair Tips Charter in order to demonstrate to their
customers that they pay their staff the minimum wage with 100 per
cent of tips on top."
Unite will be leafleting customers outside: Zizzi, Café Rouge,
Tootsies and Frankie and Benny's.
For more information contact: Saba Mozakka, Unite Press Office
on: 020 7420 8916 or 07768 693 953
Waiters and waitresses will be leafleting the public from 10.30
– 3pm on Thursday 24th September in Norwich town centre.
For information on the Fair Tips campaign please visit:
www.unitetheunion.org/fairtips
