Medway Labour Group in conjunction with Teresa Murray, Labour Parliamentary spokesperson for Rochester & Strood launched a campaign together with the Mirror and Unite about Fair Tips, to ensure that tips are divided equally and not used to cover 'walk outs' and breakages. The campaign was launched at Pizza Hut in Chatham as a symbol of best practice.

The awareness campaign started with the government closing the loophole that allowed businesses to make up their staff's minimum wage through tips, but Unite and the Labour group still believe more needs to be done.

Medway Labour Group will be asking the council to pass a motion to support the fair tips charter and to use its resources and influence to persuade local business to adopt it. They are working alongside Unite to bring the fair tips sticker to restaurants to prove they adhere to the charter.Pizza Hut has already signed the fair tips charter and guarantees that 100% of the tips go to their staff.

Cllr Vince Maple, who will be proposing the motion, said,

'Thousands of residents who work in Medway's pubs, hotels and restaurants stand to gain if the council backs the Fair Tips Charter. It is shocking that many pub and restaurant chains keep the tips we leave for staff, particularly when we pay by credit or debit card. This practice should end now and waiting staff should get 100% of the tips they work hard for.'

Cllr Teresa Murray, Parliamentary spokesperson for Rochester & Strood stated that

'I want to congratulate Pizza Hut for distributing tips fairly and recognising that the minimum wage is just that, the minimum, and any tips are a bonus awarded to the staff by satisfied customers. Id like to see all restaurants and hotels in Medway following their example so that customers are certain their tips are allocated fairly to reward staff for good service.'

Anniversary of the National Minumum Wage

The Fair Tip campaign also marks the tenth anniversary of Labour passing the National Minimum Wage Act. It remains one of the governments proudest achievements having benefited millions of people.

Almost everyone who works in the UK is legally entitled to be paid the National Minimum Wage that includes people employed permanently, by an agency, part-time workers, casual workers, or people on a short-term contract.

                    

Unlike the Tories, Labour believes that everyone deserves a proper wage, and we dont want to go back to the days when people could earn just GBP 1.20 for an hours hard work.