Four workers at Kverneriet in Oslo say they were denied tips they were owed after they joined a union. The employer strongly denies the allegations and calls them unfounded.
The employees, who asked not to be named, told E24 that they received their usual share of service charges for months. But after they signed up with the Union of Commerce and Office Employees (Handels- og Kontorfolkets forbund), the payments stopped. One worker said the timing was suspicious because the tips had always come on time before.
Kverneriet operates a café in the city center and relies on tips as part of staff pay. The company confirmed it stopped the payments but said the decision was due to a change in how service charges are recorded. A spokesperson said the money now goes into a pool shared among all employees, not paid out individually.
The workers disagree. They argue the pool system was introduced only after they joined the union. One said the company’s explanation does not add up because the café’s policy on tips had not changed otherwise. Another pointed out that the pool system benefits the employer by reducing direct payments to staff.
Union representatives have asked Kverneriet for documents showing how the money is distributed. Handels- og Kontorfolkets forbund says it will take legal steps if the company cannot explain the change. Kverneriet insists the new system is fair and complies with labor law.
Source: e24.no