Thirty-seven hospitality brands urge train unions not to strike over Christmas

02 October 2023 by
Thirty-seven hospitality brands urge train unions not to strike over Christmas

Rail unions have been urged not to strike during the festive period by 37 hospitality brands, which have signed an open letter in partnership with UKHospitality.

Wasabi, Greene King, Fuller's and Rosa's Thai are among the signatories who have called on the transport secretary, RMT, ASLEF and Rail Delivery Group to "redouble efforts" to resolve the ongoing dispute and "make a public commitment to not strike during the critical festive period".

The open letter stated: "The significance of the festive season to our sector cannot be overstated. It represents a crucial time when we traditionally see a substantial portion of our annual revenue generated, crucial to enabling venues to operate during the quiet months at the start of the year.

"The festive season is a crucial period for our workforce: missed shifts and subsequent lost earnings – including lost income from tips – would be most acutely felt around Christmas."

It comes after the managing director of Dishoom revealed last week he is fearful the group could lose 3,500 bookings over Christmas if there are further train strikes during the festive period.

Neil Sebba, managing director of Tossed, added that the ongoing strikes have been "extremely debilitating", while Keith Knowles, chief executive of Beds & Bars, said its sales were down by 70% on average on strike days.

Meanwhile train drivers are set to strike on 4 October while London Underground workers will walk out on 4 October and 6 October.

The signatories to the open letter included:

All Our Bars

BALPPA

Beds and Bars

Beer and Buns

Big Table Group

Cigalon

Club Gascon

D&D London

Drake & Morgan

ETM Group

Fuller, Smith and Turner

GC Mallen

Glendola Leisure Group

Greene King

Heartwood

Hippodrome Casino

Hollywood Bowl Group

Incipio Group

Le Bar

Legacy Hotels & Resorts

Marston's PLC

Mitchells & Butlers

Punch Pubs & Co

Revolution Bars Group

Rick Stein

Rosa's Thai

St Brides Spa hotel

Sticks'n'Sushi

Stonegate Group

The Breakfast Group

The Laine Pub Company

Thorley Taverns

Tossed

Urban Pubs and Bars

Vapiano

Wasabi

Yummy Collection

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