Workers at Pizza Hut locations across Scotland, including the Inverness store on Strothers Lane, have staged a protest accusing their franchise owner, Glenshire Brands, of “wage theft” and creating “abusive working conditions.”
The protest, led by Unite the Union, involves staff from 23 Pizza Hut outlets in Scotland, including cooks, cleaners, and delivery drivers. Unite claims that Glenshire’s actions amount to “breaking the law” and have resulted in a systemic attack on the pay and conditions of around 200 workers since the company took over the outlets in 2022.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham criticized Glenshire Brands for its treatment of workers, calling it “deplorable and reprehensible.” The union claims that the company’s actions, such as removing the long-standing driver commission, which was £1.45 per delivery (up to £80 per week), have led to significant reductions in workers’ wages. This decision, made without prior consultation, came into effect on March 10.
Graham stated, “The company has launched a full-on assault on workers’ pay and conditions, which will have a serious impact on our members’ take-home pay. The Pizza Hut workers can be assured of Unite’s complete determination to hold this rogue employer to account.”
Workers have expressed concern that, as a result of these changes, they could see their annual wages drop by thousands of pounds. In response, staff held a protest in Edinburgh on Tuesday, drawing attention to their grievances.
Attacks on Annual Leave and Rest Breaks
In addition to the changes to the commission system, Unite claims that workers have been subjected to “attacks” on their annual leave and rest break entitlements. A new policy introduced at the beginning of March requires workers to submit leave requests four weeks in advance, with no carry-over of unused leave beyond March 31. Workers have also had on-shift meal benefits and staff discounts removed, and some have had their pay docked retroactively for breaks they did not take.
Bryan Simpson, Unite’s lead organizer for hospitality, condemned the changes as a cynical attempt to cut labor costs and shift towards exploitative self-employment practices.
Glenshire’s Response
A spokesperson for Glenshire Brands defended the company’s practices, explaining that the changes to the driver commission structure — from a “per delivery” model to a “per mile” system — were made to better reflect fuel expenses and ensure insurance costs were covered. They also stated that gross pay rates had been increased by up to £1.20 per hour to accommodate National Living Wage and Minimum Wage increases.
“We are absolutely committed to robust employment practices, including honoring all annual leave and break entitlements for our almost 800 colleagues,” the spokesperson added. “We will thoroughly investigate the grievances in line with our grievance process and are actively engaging with employees to understand and resolve any concerns.”
Pizza Hut UK’s Involvement
While Glenshire Brands operates as an independent franchisee, a spokesperson for Pizza Hut UK stated that the company takes these allegations seriously. “We will continue to investigate this situation and engage with concerned employees,” the spokesperson said, affirming the brand’s commitment to ensuring a fair and safe working environment across all its outlets.
The protest and ongoing grievances reflect broader labor concerns in the fast-food industry, where workers are pushing for better pay, fairer treatment, and more transparent employment practices.
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