BOYCOTT PIZZA EXPRESS
(The following information has just been circulated by the Unite trade union (formerly the Transport and General Workers' Union). Please circulate to colleagues and friends and show whatever support you can. Remember: an injury to one is an injury to all.)
On September 27 2007, the restaurant and bar workers' branch of Unite organised a day of action to protest against employers who implement unfair and unjust rules regarding the distribution of customer tips to waiting staff.
One such company is Pizza Express. Unite members employed by the company had complained for some time that it was unfair for Pizza Express to deduct a so-called "administration fee" of 8% for processing customer tips paid on credit cards and on the service charge levied on the menu. In other words, 8p in every £1 intended for low-paid staff goes back to the multi-million pound company.
One of the union members who participated in the day of action was Nabil Guirguis, a Pizza Express manager with 17 years' service. During the event, Nabil was interviewed by both the BBC and ITV. He commented during the interview that many staff were unhappy with the 8% deduction, and that surely the company could think of a better way of making profit than taking money from staff.
The company has stated they believe the system to be fair, and that it is not doing anything unlawful. Yet, Pizza Express accused Nabil of bringing the company into disrepute by drawing attention to this practice. This begs the question: if the company claims it is doing nothing disreputable, why is it disciplining a member for "bringing the company into disrepute"?
On 20 December 2007, just five days before Christmas, Nabil was sacked for "bringing the company into disrepute and breaking our rules on commenting to the media..." An appeal was lodged against this grossly unfair and unjustified decision. However, the company refused to overturn the decision.
We say that Nabil Gurguis was legally engaged in legitimate trade union activity in his own time when he spoke to the media on 27 September 2007, and that he has the right to freedom of speech. He should not be penalised for telling the truth!
We are urging the company to reinstate him with immediate effect and to pay the loss of earnings he has suffered since 20 December 2007. We are seeking your support.
We are asking the public to boycott Pizza Express until Nabil's case is brought to a satisfactory conclusion.
We are also asking that you send a letter of concern to:
Harvey Smyth, Chief Executive (Gondola Group Ltd)
Pizza Express Ltd
5th Floor
Balcombe Street
London NW1 6NW
Fax: 0845 3899 488
If you want to do something quickly, copy this message:
Nabil Guirguis was legally engaged in legitimate trade union activity in his own time when he spoke to the media on 27 September 2007, and he has the right to freedom of speech. He should not be penalised for telling the truth! Reinstate him now! Until you do, I shall join the boycott of Pizza Express.
and send it to Pizza Express at
http://www.pizzaexpress.com/contact-us/
Thanks
(The following information has just been circulated by the Unite trade union (formerly the Transport and General Workers' Union). Please circulate to colleagues and friends and show whatever support you can. Remember: an injury to one is an injury to all.)
On September 27 2007, the restaurant and bar workers' branch of Unite organised a day of action to protest against employers who implement unfair and unjust rules regarding the distribution of customer tips to waiting staff.
One such company is Pizza Express. Unite members employed by the company had complained for some time that it was unfair for Pizza Express to deduct a so-called "administration fee" of 8% for processing customer tips paid on credit cards and on the service charge levied on the menu. In other words, 8p in every £1 intended for low-paid staff goes back to the multi-million pound company.
One of the union members who participated in the day of action was Nabil Guirguis, a Pizza Express manager with 17 years' service. During the event, Nabil was interviewed by both the BBC and ITV. He commented during the interview that many staff were unhappy with the 8% deduction, and that surely the company could think of a better way of making profit than taking money from staff.
The company has stated they believe the system to be fair, and that it is not doing anything unlawful. Yet, Pizza Express accused Nabil of bringing the company into disrepute by drawing attention to this practice. This begs the question: if the company claims it is doing nothing disreputable, why is it disciplining a member for "bringing the company into disrepute"?
On 20 December 2007, just five days before Christmas, Nabil was sacked for "bringing the company into disrepute and breaking our rules on commenting to the media..." An appeal was lodged against this grossly unfair and unjustified decision. However, the company refused to overturn the decision.
We say that Nabil Gurguis was legally engaged in legitimate trade union activity in his own time when he spoke to the media on 27 September 2007, and that he has the right to freedom of speech. He should not be penalised for telling the truth!
We are urging the company to reinstate him with immediate effect and to pay the loss of earnings he has suffered since 20 December 2007. We are seeking your support.
We are asking the public to boycott Pizza Express until Nabil's case is brought to a satisfactory conclusion.
We are also asking that you send a letter of concern to:
Harvey Smyth, Chief Executive (Gondola Group Ltd)
Pizza Express Ltd
5th Floor
Balcombe Street
London NW1 6NW
Fax: 0845 3899 488
If you want to do something quickly, copy this message:
Nabil Guirguis was legally engaged in legitimate trade union activity in his own time when he spoke to the media on 27 September 2007, and he has the right to freedom of speech. He should not be penalised for telling the truth! Reinstate him now! Until you do, I shall join the boycott of Pizza Express.
and send it to Pizza Express at
http://www.pizzaexpress.com/contact-us/ Thanks
Comments
Hide the following 4 comments
A reply from Pizza Express
01.04.2008 10:23
Thanks for taking the time to contact us about your concerns regarding
Nabil Guirguis. As I hope you can appreciate we're not able to comment on
the detail of any individual case except to say that we have gone through a
fair disciplinary process that respects good employment practice.
However, I would like to take this opportunity to clarify a number of our
company practices. PizzaExpress respects trade unions and their activity
and allows its employees to take part in legitimate trade union activities.
The company pays minimum wage in full and outright. It does not and never
has used tips to top up waiters and waitresses wages to minimum wage. All
waiters and waitresses receive their tips.
The 8% charge covers the costs of administering tips through payroll on
behalf of the tronc in order to ensure that all employees and the company
are fulfilling its legal obligation to deduct tax from credit card
gratuities. If you'd like to know more about the industry-wide practice of
using a tronc system please contact the British Hospitality Association on
0207 404 7744
I hope this helps to clarify the situation for you.
Kind regards
Catherine Young
Customer Service
Pizza eater
I got an identical reply
01.04.2008 20:49
Pizza Eater
Article on Guardian site about Pizza Express boycott
03.04.2008 16:06
G Allister
my unfair dismissal at pizza express
21.04.2008 12:36
stuart weston
e-mail:
stuartweston2001@yahoo.com.