A HOTEL described as “Scotland’s poshest resort” has been condemned by the Unite trade union, which claims its minimum-wage workers could lose hundreds of pounds through the misappropriation of tips.
Cameron House in Loch Lomond, which hosted former US president Barack Obama during the COP26 climate summit last year, is facing protests from roughly 60 workers over the system used to distribute tens of thousands of pounds in tips and service charges, following the introduction of a 10% service charge in January.
According to Unite, bar and restaurant staff have subsequently found themselves between £200 and £300 worse off per month.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham (above) said: “Minimum-wage workers are losing hundreds of pounds worth of tips at Cameron House, one of Scotland’s top-drawer luxury hotels. This is staggering abuse - a posh resort for the rich fleecing the tips of minimum-wage workers.
“The workers are fighting back and they have Unite’s rock solid support. The hotel faces significant reputational damage unless it acts to end this injustice.”
Unite has also alleged that card tips at Cameron House are withheld and not distributed until the end of the year, and that 15% of the service charge is retained to pay all staff, as opposed to bar and wait staff, as a Christmas bonus, without explanation of how the money is distributed.
Unite hospitality organiser Bryan Simpson commented that a month after a collective grievance was submitted by the union’s members, Cameron House senior management “refused to honour the key commitments they made during negotiations".
Simpson said: “They need to ensure tips are distributed fairly, transparently and democratically. Our members have had enough and will be escalating their campaign for fair tips at Cameron House."
Unite is now calling for a new “Tips Committee” known as a TRONC – a special pay arrangement used to distribute tips, gratuities and service charges to employees – which will be made up of bar and restaurant staff to oversee the “democratic and proportionate” distribution of the money in question.
Responding to Unite’s claims, a spokesperson for Cameron House told The National: “Cameron House gives 100% of service charges to our staff and always has.
“We are committed to being open and transparent during this process and will work closely with Unite and the teams to come to an agreement as quickly as possible. Getting a satisfactory outcome for our team is a priority and we will continue to move forward to deliver this.”
