5,000 signatures reached
To: Karen Forrester, CEO, TGI Friday's
Pay us fairly this Christmas
With our union, Unite, we are demanding TGI Friday's pays staff double time for our shifts over Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
Why is this important?
Premium pay rates offer a small compensation for employees spending Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day at work.
Two years ago staff at TGI Friday’s restaurants across the U.K. were forced into signing contracts that took away their right to be paid time-and-a-half for working over the Christmas and New Year period. While many people spend this time at home with family and friends, workers at restaurants like TGI Friday's have to work.
Workers were told there was no option but to sign the updated contract and that they would not be allowed to work again until they had. Some reported being told to sign the new contract halfway through a busy shift without being informed what it was they were signing away.
TGI Friday's workers are often made to survive on minimum wage. Compensation for the time spent away from our family and friends over the festive season is the least a big profitable company like TGI Friday's can do.