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A new drive to make sure workers get to keep their tips heated up in Galway over the weekend.

Mayor of Galway Cllr. Niall McNelis has been supporting the ‘My Tip, My Reward’ campaign, led by ONE Galway, which aims to make sure staff get their fair share from tipping customers.

He said: “Significant numbers of workers in the food service industry do not receive the tips which customers leave for them, a practice which needs to come to an end.”

The Galway Hospitality Group claim a survey they carried out show a 30% of workers feel like they are getting shortchanged on tips.

Clement Shevlin of One Galway said: “All it does is make it fair for workers in a low paid job. We have to make sure that the workers get their tips.”

SIPTU have advised to ask in a restaurant if the tips go to the staff.

Cllr. McNelis, who is also Labour spokesperson for Tourism, said that to attract more people into the sector, restaurants need to address the issue and make sure their staff aren’t losing out.

He said: “Working in the hospitality industry is a low paid and insecure industry. If we want to attract more into this industry and also keep the great staff we have, then this will need to be addressed, but in short-term the least we can do is make sure tips go to the workers, where the workers can distribute it fairly amongst themselves.

“These additions to workers' take-home pay are even more crucial at this, the most expensive time of year for most.

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“Tipping needs to be fair, it needs to be transparent and it should be an honest transaction.

“I am glad that a number of workplaces in Galway are supporting the campaign and recognise that tips belong to the workers. Hopefully, this campaign will encourage more to do the same.

“ONE Galway is calling for tips to be fair and transparent, so that customers know that when they a give a tip, staff receives a fair share of it.

“I am proud to support this campaign in Galway and would like to see it extend across the country.”