Union to target Malmaison over tips and working conditions
Britain's biggest union, Unite, is set to target Malmaison hotels regarding tips and working conditions on Sunday (26 February) as the group's wedding showcase gets under way.
The union has accused Malmaison hotel managers of keeping back service charge payments from customers in order to pay for breakages or to top up tills that are short of cash. It has also raised concerns over management bullying and "unfair and unsafe practices" involving health and safety breaches.
Malmaison said that the claims were isolated incidents that it was investigating.
In a statement the hotel group said: "Malmaison operates to best in class standards regarding employee engagement. It operates a fair, transparent policy regarding all aspects of remuneration. All employees, regardless of age requirements, are paid at least the National Living Wage. Additionally, it is the rule that 100% of the service charge received is paid out to food and beverage employees and any breach of this will be thoroughly investigated."
On Sunday, union members will hand out leaflets outside the group's London and Leeds hotels, calling on Malmaison CEO Paul Roberts to sign up to a five point pledge which includes:
- A wage workers can live on and fair tips
- Safe secure work, with an end to workplace bullying
- Training, development and career opportunities
- A collective voice and union recognition
Unite national officer Rhys McCarthy said: "Our message to Malmaison and the rest of the industry is simple - hospitality starts with your workers. And our message to customers is that any company that isn't hospitable to its staff will probably not be very hospitable to you.
"We're calling for decent work at Malmaison. That means a wage workers can live on, fair tips, safe secure work with an end to workplace bullying. Workers should get guaranteed hours each week with no more zero hours and training, development and career opportunities.
"All of that has to be guaranteed by an active voice for workers and proper union recognition. That's what Malmaison workers deserve. And when we've won that battle, we'll be moving on to other hospitality employers throughout the UK."
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