FAIR TIPS CAMPAIGN BY LOCAL MP - Michael Connarty MP urges all media outlets to join the campaign to ensure all tips left by customers are given to the staff in addition to their wage

Michael Connarty MP, (Linlithgow & East Falkirk) who has been the leading figure in the campaign to stop the scandal of tips paying staff wages, won a pledge of a meeting with The Secretary of State to discuss how it will be done. During Business Questions in the House of Commons on Thursday 15 May 2008 Michael welcomed the launch of the Fair Tips Charter Campaign by the Daily Mirror and Unite the Union, and called on all media outlets to take it up.

Michael said, “ It has taken years, since I had my Bill passed in Parliament but at last a major newspaper has taken up a special campaign to stop this scandal. I hope that other newspapers, who have in the past highlighted cases of this Tips Rip-Off will take up the Charter campaign. I met with Gordon Brown in February and have had indications from the Ministers that they are going to plug this gap in the law. It is important that tips left by customers are given to staff in addition to their hourly wage, and not used by employers to make up part of the minimum wage paid to employees”. “This does not require legislation, merely a change to the regulations”.

Michael hopes that increased support from media groups would help secure the necessary change to current regulations and that as a result many of his constituents will benefit from receiving this additional money for the service they provide in workplaces.