Trade union Unite has lambasted managed pub operator Spirit Group, which is part of Punch Taverns, for proposing “totally unacceptable” terms and conditions for staff.
The union is in talks with Spirit over suggested changes that would streamline its current mix of 27 different staff contracts.
Unite has claimed that reducing the number of employee contracts from 27 would leave parts of the workforce with lesser terms and conditions than others.
One change would see a reduction in benefits for those on long-term sick leave from the current 12 months on full pay to 13 weeks.
The union claims this is unfair as Spirit management qualify for 52 weeks at full pay and 26 weeks at half pay.
Jennie Formby, Unite national secretary, said members who worked for Spirit felt that many of the proposals were unacceptable.
“Unite has given its detailed response to the company on these and all other issues and has made it clear to them that we will do everything in our power to ensure we protect our members’ hard-won conditions,” said Formby.
However a spokeswoman for Spirit said that Unite’s information was “inaccurate and misleading”.
She said that due to Spirit's growth in recent years there were a number of differing terms and conditons for employees doing the same role and it had been consulting with a “small percentage of employees” regarding changes since 15 April.
"Unite’s description of lesser terms and conditions for employees is not accurate and the majority of employees will benefit from improved terms and conditions," said the spokeswoman.
Andrew Knight leaves Punch’s Spirit Group >>
Punch to convert 50 Spirit properties to leasehold >>
Unite continues campaign for fair tips with protest outside Pizza Express >>
Punch compromises with HMRC over REIT plans >>
By Christopher Walton
E-mail your comments to Christopher Walton here.
| | Newsletters
For the latest hospitality news, sign up for our e-mail newsletters. | |