US ACTOR Molly Ringwald — star of ’80s film Pretty in Pink — has been asked to back Unite’s campaign against Pizza Express before her concert at the firm’s jazz club tomorrow.

Staff at the 430-outlet pizza chain have been losing 8 per cent of all tips paid by card, due to an administration fee imposed by management.

Union members will stage a Pretty in Pink-themed picket tomorrow evening in homage to Ms Ringwald’s most famous Hollywood role.

In a letter, Unite regional officer Dave Turnbull asked the actor to help Pizza Express staff by exposing the management’s “unfair” practice to her audience.

“The campaign has really caught the public imagination. Nearly 9,000 people have signed a petition calling for the company’s unfair tipping policy to be scrapped,” he said.

“People are outraged that the hugely popular, family-favourite pizza chain is skimming a proportion of its staff’s hard-earned tips.

“We are not calling for people to boycott the popular pizza chain, but for customers to show their objection to this unfair practice by tipping in cash.”

According to the union, Pizza Express waiting and kitchen staff are paid the national minimum wage of £6.50 an hour and any tips that are not given in cash suffer the deduction.

Pizza Express, however, says the 8 per cent covers the admin costs of processing and distributing tips though its payroll system.

The Star tried to contact Ms Ringwald but received no comment at the time of going to press.