Restaurant Association seeks staff as members

The Restaurant Association (RA) has launched a campaign to attract employees as well as owners of restaurants as members of its organisation. But it has said that, on issues that could conflict between the two, its loyalties will remain with owners of restaurants rather than their staff.

Chief executive Ian McKerracher said that he wants to attract more associate members, including chefs, front of house staff and people retired from the business. Associate members have no voting rights within the RA.

"The intention is to keep people in the loop who don't necessarily own restaurants," he said.

The association's remit, he added, is to be "the voice of the restaurant industry" but not to provide individual representation.

"We're not out to poach members from other organisations that are more effective in these instances," he said.

Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper Magazine, 11-17 November 1999