Waiters and waitresses across London are taking part in a protest this Thursday against zero-hour contracts, low wages and staff losing out on tips paid via credit card.
The demonstration, organised by workers union Unite, will mark National Waiters’ Day and bring together waiting staff from across London following a survey carried out by the union that said 88% of waiters and waitresses feel “cheated” out of tips.
The march will begin at PizzaExpress to urge the company reviews its tipping system when diners opt to pay by credit card instead of cash that means waiting staff do not receive the full amount.
The survey by Unite found that one fifth of staff in the capital have zero-hours contracts and 63% are paid the minimum wage.
Unite is using National Waiters’ Day on Thursday to highlight this issue and ask companies to address tipping policies, zero-hours contracts and wages.
Dave Turnbull, Unite regional officer, said: “Back in 2008, Unite spearheaded the fair tips campaign with protests outside restaurants like Pizza Express. Fast-forward seven years and we’re back with a call to Pizza Express to scrap its unfair admin charge on tips once and for all. They claim it’s standard industry practice - it’s not.
“Our members whether they work behind bars, in restaurants or provide room service in hotels are proud of the jobs they do. But they are angry at the disrespect shown to them and their profession by highly profitable hotel and restaurant chains.
“If the hospitality industry is serious about inspiring more people to wait tables for a living it needs to do more to take poverty pay and zero-hours contracts off the menu for good.”
