TGI Friday's, McDonald's... how many restaurants can you name where workers are being bonafide bad-ass?
Restaurant chain TGI Friday’s workers have gone on strike for the fourth week in a row today.
TGI’s is refusing to sit down with its staff, after workers complained of minimum wage abuses and the employer’s decision to deduct 40% off the waiters’ tips paid by card.
Trade union Unite’s regional officer Dave Turnbull said:
“TGI Friday’s is not the only ones to do this, which is why the government needs to act to stop rogue bosses, like TGI Fridays, abusing tips and exploiting loopholes to cheat low waged staff out of the money they’re rightfully owed.”
He added that the company needed to realise that workers “will not back down and that Unite is right by their side in the fight for fair pay and tips.”
But TGI’s workers are not the first – and probably won’t be the last – set of restaurant workers engaging in some unprecedented labour fights, and telling their bosses where to stick it.
So here are some inspirational workers’ campaigns that took place at some of your favourite restaurants:
1. McDonald’s
You have probably heard of #McStrike. If you haven’t, here’s the tea: McDonald’s workers are demanding a £10 an hour living wage, a choice of fixed hour rather than precarious zero-hour contracts, an end to unequal pay for young workers, and for their union to be recognised by the employer. They organise with the Bakers Union. Their last strike was on May 1, and included five stores in England.
2. Byron
In 2016 brave workers at posh burger chain Byron leaked that the company had tricked some of its employees into a meeting that was really a sting operation of the Home Office immigration forces. A total of 35 people were arrested in the round-up, triggering protests outside of Byron’s Holborn restaurant in London. The chain has since been haunted by the threat of going into administration.
3. Pizza Express
Back in 2015, after weeks of protests and much media coverage, British pizzeria Pizza Express reverted its policy of getting an 8% cut from its staff’s tips. The “admin fee” – which was applied to any tips customers would add to their card payment – found overwhelming condemnation among the British public, and the bosses were made to beat in retreat.
4. Deliveroo
The food delivery company has had to face accusations of exploitation, after it became known its drivers were not paid on an hourly rate, but a meagre £4 per food drop. The case continues being fought by workers and the IWGB union. The Central Arbitration Committee ruled in 2017 that the deliverers were self-employed and thus not entitled to full-employee rights such as the minimum wage and union recognition.
Unite will be delivering a letter to Business Secretary Greg Clark next Tuesday, calling for action on employers deducting workers’ tips.
Joana Ramiro is a reporter for Left Foot Forward. You can follow her on Twitter for all sorts of rants here.
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