TGI Fridays’ treatment of union brands is a “national disgrace”

TGI Fridays is paying its employees the money due them after they were made redundant.

Last week, the restaurant chain closed 35 of its branches and laid off over 1,000 employees. Breal Capital, Calveton UY and D&D London own 51 branches. This saved around 2,400 jobs.

The rest of the restaurants were not saved, so the workers were informed via video call by the head office that they would be made redundant. Some employees learned about the closure via social media or when they arrived at work and found that the restaurant was locked.

Unite claimed that its members were informed they would not be receiving wages, holiday pay, or tips. Unite, a union representing former workers, threatened legal action after angry ex-workers vented their frustrations via TikTok chats and WhatsApp.

TGI Fridays informed affected employees that they would receive their money in an email.

The company said that “as a consequence of early asset realisations, the company has been able to settle certain claims early on which would otherwise be ranked as preferential claims within the estate of administration.”

The joint administrators plan to provide funds to pay arrears in wages (including bonuses) and holiday pay accrued up to 7 October 2024.

Bryan Simpson, the Unite’s lead organizer, called the treatment of the workers during the construction process “a national shame”.

He said: “We will continue to pursue legal action in order to obtain compensation for the failure of the company to consult its workers.”

TGI Fridays first opened in New York, in 1965. Its first UK restaurant was in Birmingham in the following decade.

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