(RT) – 
Despite amassing centuries of wealth and running one of the world’s largest economies, members of the UK Parliament are cheating low-wage catering workers out of their hard-earned tips.
Hidden on an interactive section of parliament.uk, the issue was addressed by the House of Commons Commission after a question was put forward by Labour MP Tulip Siddiq asking about the policy on “service charges”.
Liberal Democrats MP Tom Brake, who makes £74,000 per year, replied, “There is no mechanism for these to be paid to the individual as the agencies are paid separately to the House of Commons payroll system.”
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Officially known as “service charges”, tips made through credit card transactions are distributed equally to permanent hospitality workers, leaving contracted agency workers out in the cold.
Shadow Leader Chris Bryant said agency staff should get their “fair share” of tips: “Agency workers on flexible contracts are some of the most marginalized workers, and living in a city as expensive as London, it just isn’t right.”
This isn’t the first time the issue of poor tipping has been brought up either. In January, questions were also raised about temporary waiting staff missing out on tips paid by credit card transactions.
This piece was reprinted by RINF Alternative News with permission or license.