Unite, the UK's union for hospitality workers, has slated the
government's decision to delay the implementation
of the Fair Tips Act from 1 July to 1 October 2024.
The union, which began campaigning for legislation to be
introduced to prevent hospitality employers deducting staff tips
in 2007, said
the ‘unnecessary' setback was
the latest in years of delays.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham
said: “Employers stealing the tips of
hospitality workers is a disgrace and should obviously be
stopped. Even this government knows that – which is why they keep
promising to fix it. But this latest delay following a long line
of broken promises from Westminster shows that they don't really
care.
“The truth is that workers in this sector can't just
wait for politicians to help them – they need to join other Unite
hospitality workers, organising at work to ensure they receive
all their tips and win better jobs, pay and
conditions.”
Unite has won improved fair tipping policies for workers at Pizza
Express, Cameron House and TGI Fridays. The union has also
secured protective awards for workers made redundant at Glasgow's
13 Note and Jamies Italian and conducted successful campaigns to
improve wages and T&Cs within a number of other high profile
hospitality employers, including Marriot, Grosvenor Casinos and
The Ivy Edinburgh.
Unite lead hospitality organiser Bryan Simpson
said: “Despite the delay to the Fair Tips Act,
Unite will continue pushing forward with its efforts to make
hospitality workers aware of their rights when it comes to the
new legislation. Employers in the sector should be in no doubt,
whether industrially or legally, Unite will hold them to account
if they try to take advantage of their workers.”
