Unite has criticised the Night Time Economy Summit for failing to include the voices of hospitality workers.

The event, which is being held today (11 February) and tomorrow (12 February) in Liverpool by the Night Time Industries Association has brought together key players in the sector, but has failed to include workers in the industry or unions representing them.

While there are panel discussions on issues that affect hospitality workers such as the future of the pub trade and night time safety, Unite is concerned that without actually involving staff in the industry themselves there will be little opportunity for meaningful improvements for workers.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Without including the voices of workers, this summit will fail to improve jobs, pay and conditions for hospitality staff and risks being nothing more than an echo chamber for those in the industry.

"Hospitality workers are among the most precarious in our society. Any summit on the night time economy should put workers at its heart and it is a glaring mistake they have been excluded."

Among the problems currently facing workers in hospitality include low pay, precarious zero hours contracts, issues with attracting and retaining staff which has been worsened by a reduction in available workers from the EU post-Brexit, as well as sexual harassment and issues with travelling home late at night.

Unite has constantly raised issues with hospitality venues about and campaigned on the poor pay and conditions and safety problems facing staff in the sector.

Unite hospitality lead Bryan Simpson said: "No Night Time Economy Summit can hope to find genuine solutions to the serious problems facing the sector and the staff who put in the hard work making venues profitable if it does not include hospitality workers who know first hand what needs to be done.

"The lack of representation of workers' voices is a glaring omission and shows their rights are not deemed high enough on the agenda. Next year's summit must include hospitality workers, otherwise nothing will change when it comes to improving their working lives." 

ENDS 

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Email: natasha.wynarczyk@unitetheunion.org