Wetherspoons are opening a couple of landmark pubs in central London, the Sun King at London Bridge and the Alexander Fleming at Paddington. To mark the occasion Tim Martin has been interviewed by the Sunday Times Business News (28th Sept).
Unusually for Sir Tim nothing controversial emerges in the interview.
However there were some interesting comments. Despite campaigns Wetherspoons with 800 pubs does not recognise a union. It is unfortunately hardly unusual amongst large pub chains in this.
However just as supermarket chains like Aldi and Lidl that resist front of house unionisation, pay higher than average wages, so Martin reveals, in part, what Spoons have done to fend off unions.
Newer Spoons pubs now have staff rooms and Martin notes that the average length of service of a Spoons manager is 15 years.
For these developments the kudos should mostly go not to Sir Tim’s employee relations but to unionisation campaigns that remind him that he can’t ignore employee welfare.
Union organisation and recognition at Wetherspoons is still an important objective.
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