UK Union takes on Domino’s Pizza in battle over ‘exploited’ foreign workers

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/industrials/article2237495.ece

Christine Buckley, Industrial Editor

Your pizza may be delivered to you within 30 minutes or your money back, but it may also be delivered by workers who are living in cramped conditions and who earn next to nothing because they are loaded with debt by their employer.

Such are the allegations against branches of the biggest global pizza chain by Britain’s biggest union. Domino’s Pizza is poised to become the latest cause célèbre in the union’s fight for the better treatment of migrant workers after Unite yesterday staged a demonstration against the sacking of Hungarian workers at three pizza branches in Derby.

The demonstration comes as unions are increasingly highlighting the plight of migrant workers who can fall victim to unscrupulous employment agencies and fail to understand their employment rights as they struggle with language difficulties.

The union said that matters at Domino’s came to a head when workers challenged deductions from their pay which would leave them with a pittance at the end of the week or in hock to the company because of loans for cars and car insurance. The three Domino’s franchises, which are among 26 owned by the millionaire Surinder Kandola, require pizza delivery workers to be owner drivers with their own motor insurance.

Unite plans to take the cases of 12 Hungarian workers at Domino’s to an employment tribunal, claiming that deductions were made illegally. Some weekly pay slips for workers show workers owing the company more than £137 or receiving net pay of as little as £8. Simon Wallace, Unite’s Derby officer, said: “Domino’s is a global brand. It should be setting a lead in employment practice, not shielding those making vast profits by exploiting vulnerable workers.”

Mr Kandola said he would fight the employment tribunal actions, although he said that the workers’ pay slips “could have been clearer”. But he said that “there is a full audit trail of the deductions, which has been given to Domino’s”.

FULL story at link.

has got to put in check.