Waiters did not get tips after unionizing

It’s not very hidden that he’s after the union members, he just wants to find any way to get rid of us.

That’s what chef Michael Vedestig said when E24 met him and colleague Rymond Vaz, and former bar manager Emma Lawlor earlier this year.

The three wanted to talk about a workplace where the atmosphere had soured after they joined the trade union Fellesforbundet.

At that time, Vedestig and Vaz were still working at Kverneriet Solli and were respectively the first and second shop stewards. Lawlor had resigned from his post last August.

Denies the charges

The general manager of Kverneriet Solli, David Dörrich, has not wanted to comment on the case directly, but through his lawyer he denies that he should have reacted to the trade union and calls the allegation “baseless.” See more answers from Kverneriet further down in the matter.

A large part of the conflict between the employees and the management at the Kverneriet revolved around tip money.

After employers were required to report tips to employees on a par with ordinary wages in 2019, Kverneriet began deducting 30 percent of the employees’ tip money.

According to the house rules at the Kverneriet, which E24 has seen, the deduction goes to administrative costs, holiday pay, pension and employer’s contribution.

The trio reacted to this.

They believe it is illegal and refer to the so-called “Tipsdommen” in the Supreme Court from 2023.

Over DKK 200,000 in tips.

Despite the reaction from the general manager, they nevertheless chose to unionize and sent demands for a collective agreement. It was signed in June last year, shows a protocol E24 has seen.

Between July 2025 and February 2026, the 3 union members should not have been paid any tips at all, according to Vedestig. He has shared the claim he sent to Kverneriet in February with E24.