TGI Friday's strikers, 25.8.18, photo Pete Mason

TGI Friday’s strikers, 25.8.18, photo Pete Mason   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Helen Pattison, London Socialist Party

After two rounds of strike action, TGI Fridays staff have won. Bosses gave them just two days’ notice of a new tips system which would lose them up to £250 a month.

Enraged by the chief executive’s attack on their conditions, members of general union Unite voted to strike.

Workers organised lively protests and picket lines with solidarity from other trade unionists and the Socialist Party.

The victory means workers have more control over distribution of tips through a ‘tronc’ (pooled tips) committee. They will also get paid for trial shifts and online training.

But the problems are far from unique to TGI Fridays. When I worked in a pub, management used our tips to make up till discrepancies.

There were protests at Pizza Express and other firms when workers discovered companies keep a percentage of tips from card payments as a ‘handling fee’.

It led to a Unite campaign across the hospitality sector for staff to keep 100% of tips.

The TGI Fridays victory is very important. It shows that workers in hospitality can win. Unions should use it to inspire others to organise and fight.