News from Vale of Clwyd Labour

AM joins boycott in fight for fair wages

Ann Jones AM is calling on all her colleagues at the Assembly to boycott Strada, Café Rouge and Bella Italia whilst the parent company Tragus continues to exploit a loophole depriving waiting staff of their tips.

Labour staffer Matt Greenough has written to Ann Jones AM, Wage Concern Co-ordinator for Wales, to encourage Assembly Members to join an Assembly staff boycott.

Mrs Jones has now tabled a Statement of Opinion condemning Tragus and any other company employing these pay practices.

The unscrupulous system means that when customers pay by card, the tips they think they are leaving for waiting staff are used to make up the £6.50 hourly rate. The action that has incensed Labour AMs, however, is Tragus’ threat to sack waiters or waitresses that request for tips in cash.

Wage Concern

Furthering the fight for fair wages, Ann Jones has called on the Welsh Conservatives to join Labour’s opposition to a Conservative Bill seeking to undercut the Minimum Wage by introducing an opt-out.

The Conservative MP, Christopher Chope is currently attempting to pass the Employment Opportunities Bill through parliament. The proposal is designed to provide an opt-out of the national minimum wage – effectively negating the law.

Mrs Jones has written to each Conservative MP who has volunteered to sponsor the Bill and is inviting others to do the same.

Ann Jones AM said:

“The Minimum Wage has ensured that over a million people in the UK get a fair wage for their work.

“The Tragus management should be ashamed of these practices. Waiting staff are worked incredibly hard in restaurants all over the country and I am sure that customers would be mortified to find that the company were using their tips to cover wages – I know I was! I just can’t believe this rampant disregard for fair play.

“This is a perfect example of why everyone needs to oppose the Tory Bill. The Conservatives are happy to bring back the bad old days when people were bullied out of a fair wage.

“They believe in race to the bottom, we don’t!

“The National Minimum Wage is now part of the fabric of British Society and we must fight its opponents hammer and tong. Tragus, Tories, whoever – it must stay and it will!”

Matt Greenough said:

“This is a flagrant abuse of the spirit of the law behind the Minimum Wage and as such I have helped to organise a Labour Support Staff boycott.

“The Minimum Wage is one of the proudest achievements of the Labour Government, and I think it would be hypocritical for those of us committed to Labour values to continue as customers in these restaurants.”

Other news from Vale of Clwyd Labour

• Labour AM calls on Welsh Assembly to promote local produce - 29 September 2010
• Wales Union Learning Fund under threat of Tory cuts - 25 September 2010
• Teachers and pupils praised for exam success in Wales - 22 August 2010