Workplace Report May 2018

Bargaining news

Waiters strike over change to tips policy


Workers at two TGI Fridays’ restaurants have taken strike action for the first time over a tips policy change which could cost waiting staff £250 a month in lost wages. 


The workers union, Unite, is urging the company to work with them on a fair solution or risk a summer of disruption as weekly 24-hour strikes threaten to hit the American dining chain on consecutive Fridays. 


Workers at two further restaurants in Manchester and London have also voted overwhelmingly to strike. And with the results of a further two ballots due, staff at six TGI restaurants could be on strike from 1 June. 


Unite regional officer Dave Turnbull said members had sent a clear message that they will not roll over aand havetheir tips taken, without any consultation..v


“This isn’t about minimum wage servers not wanting to share with their kitchen colleagues. It’s about a company whose shareholders have gotten so greedy that they no longer want to pay their hardworking staff anything above the bare minimum,” Turnbull said.

www.unitetheunion.org/campaigning/fair-tips-for-waiting-staff/tgi-fridays-fair-tips-hero-to-zero