Unite demands Pizza Express manager is reinstated

17 April 2008

Unite members will protest tomorrow (Friday 18th April) outside a branch of Pizza Express against the sacking of a union activist.

The trade union demonstration outside the Wimbledon branch of Pizza Express is part of a wider campaign to demand that all restaurants distribute service charges and restaurant tips fairly. Unite is also calling for the immediate reinstatement of Nabil Guiguis’ who was dismissed for speaking out over the unfair deduction from staff tips at Pizza Express.

Dave Turnbull, Unite regional industrial officer said: "I’m sure Pizza Express customers expect that the tips they leave for good service goes to the staff and would be upset that the restaurant are creaming money off the top.

"Pizza Express should do the right thing and reinstate Unite activist, Nabil Guiguis if they want to avoid serious damage to their corporate reputation. Along with other restaurants it is vital that Pizza Express operate a transparent tips service so customers know that the service charge they leave goes to the hard-working staff."

Unite is campaigning for a change in the law to close the loophole that allows employers to use tips to pay the minimum wage. The Unite demonstration outside the Wimbledon branch aims to make clear to Pizza Express that tips and service charges should be considered an addition to a decent living wage.

Nabil Guisuis had been working for Pizza Express for 17 years.