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CHANTS of “no dough, no pizza” resounded through the streets of Edinburgh today as workers at Pizza Hut franchisee Glenshire Group accused it of wage theft and intimidation at its 23 takeaway outlets across Scotland.
About 200 cooks, cleaners and delivery drivers have launched a collective grievance amid what their union Unite branded a “systematic attack” on their pay and conditions since the conglomerate took on the franchises in 2022.
Unite have accused Glenshire Group of recently removing delivery commission to drivers — a move workers argue threatens to plunge pay below minimum wage after costs such as fuel and insurance.
Workers’ fury grew further when pay for rest breaks was retroactively docked and changes to annual leave arrangements were imposed, which will see dozens lose entitlements in the coming weeks.
Unite hospitality lead organiser Bryan Simpson branded the moves “morally reprehensible and almost certainly illegal.”
He said: “This is a cynical attempt to demolish pay and conditions for some of the lowest paid workers in the economy — to cut labour costs and lurch towards bogus self-employment.
“Unite will not allow such a dangerous precedent to be set.”
Unite regional officer Graeme Smith told the Star that workers had been threatened with dismissal for taking part in the protest.
He said: “The managing director of the company called a move to £3.75 per hour, sacrificing your pension, sacrificing your sick pay, sacrificing your annual leave, a lucrative offer.
“Does that sound like a lucrative move for any worker?”
Glenshire Group said it was “absolutely committed to robust employment practices.”
Pizza Hut UK said Glenshire would be “actively engaging in the coming days,” adding: “We take these allegations seriously.”