Owners rage at union's ‘SAS' tactics

By David Shrimpton

Restaurateurs in London's Covent Garden have become embroiled in a bitter row with the TGWU over the union's "SAS-style" tactics in attempting to recruit new members.

Union organisers have been walking into restaurants in the area and handing leaflets to waiters, waitresses and bar staff.

The tactic has upset the owners of the 300-seat Rock Garden Café, which has exchanged angry letters with the TGWU.

Managing director Philip Matthews wrote that the union's "highly presumptuous" approach was akin to "a visitation by a messiah".

He added: "Your team arrived during business hours, as my staff were preparing to serve their customers. Your team entered back of house areas without permission, endangering themselves and my crew and causing disruption to all parties, which had a knock-on effect to our customers. Your team will not be tolerated on any further visits."

General manager Brendan Lucey said: "The campaign is titled Respect at Work. There wasn't an ounce of respect shown by these guys. It was SAS-style."

He conceded that unions had a role to play, but said they should concentrate on "catching the bad guys". The Rock Garden was a good employer, he claimed.