Pizza Hut workers in Scotland protest against reduced wages

Pizza Hut cooks, cleaners and delivery drivers reported that they are enduring wage theft and the denial of breaks across 23 take away outlets in Scotland, Unite has revealed.

Glenshire Brands, which owns the Pizza Hut take away stores in various locations across Scotland, has been accused by Unite of providing unfit pay and working conditions for around 200 workers.

On 10th March, the company announced that the ‘drivers’ commission’ was being removed with immediate effect.

The payment amounted to £1.45 per delivery and it was paid for over 15 years amounting up to £70 to £80 a week for drivers.

As a consequence, Unite staged a protest and photo call on 25th March at Pizza Hut in Edinburgh.

Sharon Graham general secretary at Unite said: “The behaviour of Glenshire Brands across Pizza Hut outlets in Scotland is deplorable and reprehensible.

“The company has launched a full-on assault on workers’ pay and conditions which will have a serious impact on our members’ take-home pay.

“The Pizza Hut workers can be assured of Unite’s complete determination to hold this rogue employer to account.” 

In addition, the Pizza Hut drivers using their own car do not receive mileage payments and are solely responsible for the maintenance of their own vehicles.

The company at the beginning of March introduced a new policy that all leave requests must be made four-weeks in advance, and not permitting a carry-over of the annual holiday period after 31st March. 

The Pizza Hut workers have also had the on-shift meal and staff discount removed.

Workers have submitted a collective grievance on the loss of drivers’ commission with workers across the Pizza Hut stores, raising a grievance on the leave, breaks and health and safety issues.

Bryan Simpson, lead organiser for hospitality at Unite, said: “The way our members have been treated by the Glenshire Group is morally reprehensible and almost certainly illegal.

“This is a cynical attempt to demolish pay and conditions for some of the lowest paid workers in the economy – to cut labour costs and lurch towards bogus self-employment. 

“Unite will not allow such a dangerous precedent to be set, and we will be doing everything in our power to support our members to fight back against these measures industrially, legally and politically.” 

Workplace Journal has reached out to Glenshire Brands for a comment.