Waiter Sacked In London After Tipping Leaflet Found In Locker

   

A waiter has been sacked from one of London’s most exclusive steak houses after a leaflet calling for fairer tipping was found in his locker, a union has claimed.

Unite said Robert Czegely, 27, lost his job at the STK restaurant in Aldwych, part of the five-star Melia ME Hotel, over allegations of “gross misconduct” after the leaflet was discovered.

The group said he was sacked on Wednesday, May 25, after he was found with a flyer in support of fairer tips and the right to join a union.

The hospitality worker, employed at the restaurant for nearly two years, is now set to take the Spanish-led hotel chain to an employment tribunal for unfair dismissal.

In February, the Standard revealed hotel bosses had been accused of using tips left by diners to top up the salaries of managers instead of handing it to waiters.

The restaurant was alleged to have used most of a 15 per cent service charge to increase senior management salaries instead of sharing it among low-paid workers.

Dave Turnbull, Unite London regional officer for the hospitality sector, said: “It is truly shameful that a few days after business secretary, Sajid Javid, indicated that he would act to ensure transparency and fairness on tips and service charges, a global hotel chain, such as Melia, should sack an employee for supporting our campaign to achieve this outcome.

“Melia proudly boasts of its ethical business stance on workers’ rights, yet this sacking flies in the face of any such claims.

“We are clear that this dismissal was in breach of Robert’s basic legal right to join and participate in a trade union.”

The hotel said it was unable to comment specifically on the claims concerning Mr Czegely.

Guillaume Marly, general manager at the hotel, said: “Due to employment laws, ME London cannot provide information about employee contracts.

“ME London respects the thoughts and views of employees and the hotel will continue to fully support individual workers’ decisions to join a union.”

Last month, Business Secretary Sajid Javid announced plans to end unfair tipping practices. A consultation is due to end on June 27