

Tips are classified as taxable earnings. Does this hotel declare them?

BOSSES at a top hotel allegedly sacked one of their waiters after finding a “fair tips” leaflet in his locker, the union Unite said yesterday.

Trade unionists and supporters of Robert Czegely held a protest last night outside the five-star STK restaurant in central London’s plush Melia ME Hotel, which charges well over £1,000 a night for one of its suites, as he prepared for an employment tribunal hearing tomorrow, after Unite lodged the claim.

Unite accused Melia bosses of “heavy-handed, anti-union bias” and victimising Mr Czegely for organising workers against management’s 15 per cent levy on tips.

In a statement issued to the Star, Mr Czegely said: “I believe I’ve been victimised for speaking out about something all the staff felt to be unfair and for campaigning for the union to be recognised.

“I hope someone at a more senior level in the company will look seriously at what has been going on at STK and the ME London Hotel and make the correct decisions to resolve this.”