Unite: total failure on staff tips code
Waiters and waitresses will hold a demonstration today in protest at the "total failure" of the new fair tips system introduced last year.
On 1 October last year, the Government closed a tips loophole, which allowed employers to take tips and either profit from them or use them to top up staff pay to the minimum wage.
However, trade union Unite has claimed the new tips code is not being enforced.
"Unite has found that one year on from the campaign there are still too many employers who regard tips as a subsidy for low pay and who see the tips and service charge money left by customers as a pot of cash to which they are free to help themselves," said Unite officer Dave Turnbull.
"Unite members working in restaurants, hotels and bars across the country have seen establishments increase the percentage of the service charge they deduct from their pay packets.
"Workers expected their employers to hear the demands of consumers last year to pass all the money they intended for staff to them, instead many businesses have chosen to continue business as usual and profit from the gratuity charges.
"The Government must now act to implement the review of the 'Tips Code' that was committed to in order to hold this industry to account, it has been a total failure.
"If the bosses do not do the right thing and pass the tips and service charge money to the waiters and waitresses then consumers will lose faith in this sector."
Waiting staff will hold a protest outside the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) today at 11am.
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