HOSPITALITY union Unite renewed its demand for “fair tips” legislation over the weekend as it emerged that Pizza Express has slashed the proportion of gratuities paid to its waiting staff.

In a divide-and-rule move slammed by the union, the chain upped deductions from 30 to 50 per cent in order to pay kitchen staff more when restaurants reopened on May 17.

Unite said the move would deprive minimum-wage waiting staff of a sizeable chunk of their low income and was made to avoid paying kitchen staff better basic wages as the chain seeks to replace some of the 2,500 staff it sacked during the Covid-19 lockdown.