Ryan FowlerUnite, the UK’s union for hospitality workers, has criticized the government’s decision to delay the implementation of the Fair Tips Act from 1 July to 1 October 2024. The union, campaigning since 2007 for legislation to prevent employers from deducting staff tips, has labeled this delay as unnecessary and a continuation of ongoing postponements.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham stated, “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.”
Graham also emphasised the need for direct action: “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 successfully improved tipping policies at major employers such as Pizza Express, Cameron House, and TGI Fridays and has campaigned actively for better pay and conditions in the sector.
Bryan Simpson, Unite’s lead hospitality organiser, reaffirmed the union’s commitment: “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.”
