JD WETHERSPOONS staff had their 50 per cent meal discount cut as the pub chain boss Sir Tim Martin was honoured at Windsor Castle today.

The Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) said that the underpaid and undervalued workers were furious as they are not allowed to bring their own food into work to heat up.

The union urged the chain to rescind this decision, which leaves staff with only one free meal a day, and pay their workers at least a £15 an hour minimum wage.

As Sir Tim attended an investiture ceremony for his services to hospitality and culture, BFAWU general secretary Sarah Woolley said: “Wetherspoons needs to raise the bar as far as their treatment of their workforce is concerned.

“The company is taking the hard work and dedication of their staff for granted.

“Wetherspoons is only back in profit because of their staff.

“They are the central reason for their success and this decision to cut the staff discount sends a strong signal that this is neither understood nor appreciated by the owners.”

She said that the staff would not need the discount if they were paid better.

“The problem is that this is the latest signal that the company does not value its workforce in the way that it should,” she said.

“Wetherspoons should change tack and remind itself that its workers are their biggest asset and they should be appreciated and rewarded better than they are at the moment.”

Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “Wetherspoon has awarded over 20% of the shares in the company to employees since introducing the free shares scheme in 2006 and is one of a few companies that offers a complimentary meal and drink on duty, even for the shortest shift. In January this year, the company was recognised as a top employer by the ‘Top Employers’ Institute’ for the 19th time.”

Former chancellor Sir Sajid Javid and Game of Thrones actress Emilia Clarke were also handed honours by Prince William at the ceremony.