The tipping point?

Champagne corks have been popping over Pizza Express’s decision to scrap the eight per cent administration fee on tips with Unite hailing a victory in its ‘fair tips’ campaign.

The union has been at the forefront of the fight against the 430-strong Pizza Express chain for not passing on the tips paid by credit card in full to waiting staff.

Unite is now turning its attention to other restaurant companies – such as Ask Italian, Prezzo, Belgo, Strada, Café Rouge, Bella Italia and Zizzi – which have not been playing fair on tips to staff.

Business secretary, Sajid Javid, is being urged to press on with his recently announced consultation on tipping policy and shine a light on bad practice in the hospitality industry as a matter of urgency.

Brave stand

Unite regional officer Dave Turnbull said: “First of all, I would like to thank our Pizza Express members for the very brave stand they have made against a powerful multi-national company.

 

“Against the odds, they have breached the wall of bad practice that has surrounded tipping policy in the UK for far too long. We have been proud to represent them and this shows that with your union by your side you can obtain justice.” 

 

Transparent

 

He added: “Unite welcomes the long overdue decision by Pizza Express to scrap its unfair tax on tips. With our membership we will be closely monitoring the implementation of the new policy to ensure it is both fair and transparent.

“The tronc system – the method used to process and distribute card tips through the payroll – needs a radical, modernising overhaul.

 

“To ensure the process of allocating tips is wholly independent from employers we want to see new guidance on tronc schemes that ensure only waiting staff themselves are eligible to hold positions, such as tronc ‘master’ and on the tronc committee.

“Also such officers should be nominated and elected by staff and are obligated to consult widely with all staff before contemplating any future changes to the distribution and share of tips.”

Victory celebration

 

Making it clear there will be no let up in the wider campaign for fair tips Turnbull went on to say: “We will turn tonight’s demo at the Baker Street Pizza Express into a short victory celebration – a truly champagne moment – and call on other chains to follow the lead of Giraffe and Pizza Express.”

 

Pizza Express, which employs 10,000 people, today announced changes to its tipping policy. From 6 October, tips made on electronic card payments will now to be fully distributed among employees.

 

“The campaign really caught the public’s imagination. Almost 10,000 people signed a petition calling for the company’s unfair tipping policy to be scrapped”, Turnbull said.

Outraged

 

“People were outraged that the hugely popular, family favourite pizza chain had been skimming a proportion of its staff’s hard earned tips.

“Waiting staff are among the UK’s worst paid employees. Pizza Express waiting and kitchen staff are paid the national minimum wage of just £6.50 per hour – no matter how long they’ve worked for the company.

“They are heavily reliant on customer tips to top up their low pay – so today’s announcement will boost their income.”