Unite, the UK’s union for hospitality workers, has slated the government’s decision to delay the implementation of the Fair Tips Act from 1 July to 1 October 2024.
The union, which began campaigning for legislation to be introduced to prevent hospitality employers deducting staff tips in 2007, said the ‘unnecessary’ setback was the latest in years of delays.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Employers stealing the tips of hospitality workers is a disgrace and should obviously be stopped. Even this government knows that – which is why they keep promising to fix it. But this latest delay following a long line of broken promises from Westminster shows that they don’t really care.
“The truth is that workers in this sector can’t just wait for politicians to help them – they need to join other Unite hospitality workers, organising at work to ensure they receive all their tips and win better jobs, pay and conditions.”
Unite has won improved fair tipping policies for workers at Pizza Express, Cameron House and TGI Fridays. The union has also secured protective awards for workers made redundant at Glasgow’s 13 Note and Jamies Italian and conducted successful campaigns to improve wages and T&Cs within a number of other high profile hospitality employers, including Marriot, Grosvenor Casinos and The Ivy Edinburgh.
Unite lead hospitality organiser Bryan Simpson said: “Despite the delay to the Fair Tips Act, Unite will continue pushing forward with its efforts to make hospitality workers aware of their rights when it comes to the new legislation. Employers in the sector should be in no doubt, whether industrially or legally, Unite will hold them to account if they try to take advantage of their workers.”
