Workers at Papa John’s Sheffield restaurant win lockdown pay dispute after protest

Workers and ex-workers at Papa John’s were paid in full on Friday for wages owed, following a demonstration outside Papa John’s on Ecclesall Road last weekend.

The protesters were demanding wages owed to them whilst they worked for a previous franchise owner.

Workers complained they were owed wages for work completed before the franchise was transferred from previous owner, Tofur Ali, in June. Some claim their wages for this period amounted to less than the legal minimum wage.

Gio Lanera, a former worker at Papa John’s, and member of the Bakers’ Food and Allied Workers’ Union (BFAWU) (5) who was paid on Friday said:

“The way Papa John's treated us in the middle of a global pandemic is one of the lowest things an employer could do. At the start of lockdown I found myself in a desperate situation trying to find employment.

“I started working at Papa John’s and I’ve got to say I’ve never been treated so badly in any other employment. To top it off we then didn’t even get paid.

“I complained to Papa John’s corporate but they didn’t care. When you’re on your own, corporations and franchise owners can ignore you. But when you come together with your coworkers in a union, people have to take you more seriously. It’s gotten sorted so quickly since we joined the union.”

On Saturday July 25 workers were joined by members of the community including Olivia Blake MP for a demonstration outside Papa John’s on Ecclesall Road to pressure the company to pay workers the wages owed.

All workers involved in the action, organised by Sheffield Needs A Pay Rise, say they have been paid in full for wages owed, from shifts worked as long ago as February 2020.

Papa John’s and the new franchise owner in Sheffield Gurnek Singh have not replied to our request for a comment.

Sheffield Needs A Pay Rise is a campaign bringing together low wage workers to demand fair pay, hours and union rights. It is supported by The Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) and Sheffield TUC (Trades Union Council).