Liberal Democrats call on restaurants in York to fairly pay staff tips (York Liberal Democrats)

York Liberal Democrats <info@yorklibdems.org.uk>

Liberal Democrats call on restaurants in York to fairly pay staff tips

August 13, 2008 6:17 PM

The Liberal Democrats in York are calling on the Government to introduce mandatory legislation forcing restaurants to clearly state their policy on whether tips go to the restaurant or waiting staff.

The Lib Dems welcomed the recent announcement that new legislation will be introduced to ban restaurants from "topping up" waiters and waitresses' pay with tips to meet the minimum wage, bringing an end to a well known loophole in minimum wage law.

However, the Liberal Democrats are concerned that this announcement stopped short of providing a fair deal for waiting staff. The Liberal Democrats in York believe it is very important that restaurants are forced to make public their policies on tipping and tell customers and staff where tips end up - i.e. with staff or proprietors.

Liberal Democrat Councillor, Ceredig Jamieson-Ball, has written to the Government Minister for Business, John Hutton MP, to ask that he includes this provision when the new legislation on waiting staff wages is introduced. In order to understand the impact any new legislation will have on restaurant workers in York, Cllr Jamieson-Ball is also writing to restaurant chains with premises in the city to ask whether they pay staff tips, whether these are passed directly from the customer to the waiter/waitress, and whether their policy on tipping is clearly stated to customers.

Cllr Jamieson-Ball said:

"With so many restaurants in York, there could be hundreds of workers affected by this national problem. Hardworking staff should be rewarded properly and honestly by the company they work for. Customers should not be fooled by large restaurant chains into thinking that tips given for good service go to their waiter or waitress when often they end up swelling the coffers of big companies."

"The Liberal Democrats in York are calling for a fair deal for local waiters and waitresses. We are now asking the Government to ensure that tipping practices are made clear, which will give staff and customers alike a fairer deal."