Unite the UK’s leading union, which represents thousands of hospitality workers, has launched a nation-wide campaign to ensure that workers in the lowest paid sector receive fair pay and fair tips.

The unions campaign comes ahead of new tips legislation which comes into effect on 1 October. Given the regrettable history of the sector in the way it treats many of its workers the campaign will focus on ensuring that workers understand their rights and have the support and tools they need to collectively enforce those rights. 

Rogue employers

The campaign will also name and shame rogue employers who try to ignore or distort the new legislation, or who attempt to suppress wages to boost their profits.

The Employment (Fair Allocation of Tips) Act will impact over four million workers who receive tips or service charge. It will obligate employers to hand over 100 per cent of all tips (card, cash and service charge) in a fair and transparent manner by the end of the next month. Under the new act, workers can take their employer to tribunal for failure to ensure fair tips within 12 months of the breach, where a judge can order the re-allocation of tips plus up to £5,000 compensation for each worker impacted. 

Pay and tip justice

Sharon Graham, Unite General Secretary said: “Unite is passionate in its support for hospitality workers and it will leave no stone unturned in supporting our members who are facing exploitation by employers.

“If employers think they can continue to get away with failing to give workers their tips or docking their pay they need to think again. Unite will use every avenue to ensure our members secure pay and tip justice.”

Campaign demands

Unite’s fair pay and fair tips campaign is calling for the following:

·         Fair Pay Now - Workers should be paid enough so that they don't need to rely on tips to make ends meet

·         100% Tips - Where workers receive tips, they should receive 100 per cent without any employer deductions

·         Transparency - Workers have the right to see exactly how many tips have been collected and distributed

·         Fairness - Tips should be distributed equitably according to job role, wages etc

·         Democracy - What is fair should be determined by the workers who earn tips via a democratically elected TRONC committees.

 

Further details about Unite’s campaign can be found on the website

Fair tips not guaranteed

Bryan Simpson, Unite's Lead Organiser for the Hospitality sector said: “While legislation to regulate tips is very much needed, it doesn't mean fair tips are guaranteed. 

“Workers must collectively demand them through their union which is why we have launched the fair pay, fair tips campaign - to give hospitality workers the knowledge and tools to organise their workplace to win the pay and tips they deserve”

Unite wins

In 2018, Unite Hospitality members at TGI Fridays took historic strike action to win a fairer tips policy. In 2022, workers at Cameron House won back £138k in unpaid tips and service charge when it was discovered that their employer had not been transparent or fair with distribution.

ENDS

Notes to editors

For media enquiries ONLY please contact Unite senior communications advisor Barckley Sumner on 07802 329235.

Email: barckley.sumner@unitetheunion.org

Twitter: @unitetheunion Facebook: unitetheunion1 Instagram: unitetheunion Web: unitetheunion.org

Unite is the UK and Ireland’s leading union fighting to protect and advance jobs, pay and conditions for members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham.