Waiters the victims of 'total failure' on tips law

Friday, 1 October 2010 12:01 AM

By Peter Wozniak

Waiting staff hoping to see an improvement in conditions a year after a change in the law are still the victims of a "total failure", a union has claimed.

Today marks one year since a law was introduced to prevent employers from failing to pass on tips money to waiters.

According to Unite, very little has changed in reality, with employers still "helping themselves" from communal tips funds.

Dave Turnbull from Unite said: "Unite members working in restaurants, hotels and bars across the country have seen establishments increase the percentage of 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.

Mr Tunbull urged the coalition government to review the legislation, calling it a "total failure".

The Tips Code enacted last year was intended to close a loophole in minimum wage legislation that meant that gratuity payments left by customers could be picked up by employers and not passed on.

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• economy
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• employment
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• employment regulations