Emiliano Mellino
@mellino.bsky.social
Journalist at @tbij.bsky.social. I cover inequality, precarious work and migration.
You can contact me on emilianomellino@tbij.com
https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/profile/emilianomellino
https://linktr.ee/emiliano.mellino
You can contact me on emilianomellino@tbij.com
https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/profile/emilianomellino
https://linktr.ee/emiliano.mellino
A few weeks ago this Reform rising star went on LBC & said young people were being paid too much,citing his experience in hospitality.
So we looked into his companies & found 3 tribunal judgments for failure to pay wages, holiday pay & provide contracts
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
So we looked into his companies & found 3 tribunal judgments for failure to pay wages, holiday pay & provide contracts
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
November 21, 2025 at 10:41 AM
A few weeks ago this Reform rising star went on LBC & said young people were being paid too much,citing his experience in hospitality.
So we looked into his companies & found 3 tribunal judgments for failure to pay wages, holiday pay & provide contracts
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
So we looked into his companies & found 3 tribunal judgments for failure to pay wages, holiday pay & provide contracts
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
The answer isn't that workers themselves are not organisnig. There are several wildcat strikes that fly under the radar, but without support, they often fizzle out.
Some have even organised protested at the Home Office, as shown in this photo.
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
Some have even organised protested at the Home Office, as shown in this photo.
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
November 12, 2025 at 8:35 AM
The answer isn't that workers themselves are not organisnig. There are several wildcat strikes that fly under the radar, but without support, they often fizzle out.
Some have even organised protested at the Home Office, as shown in this photo.
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
Some have even organised protested at the Home Office, as shown in this photo.
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
With all this rampant impunity, what @mattcole.bsky.social proposes makes a lot of sense. The problem is that even more modest proposals that Labour had considered, such as making directors liable for non-payment of tribunal awards, have been shelved.
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
October 21, 2025 at 7:49 AM
With all this rampant impunity, what @mattcole.bsky.social proposes makes a lot of sense. The problem is that even more modest proposals that Labour had considered, such as making directors liable for non-payment of tribunal awards, have been shelved.
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
But it doesn’t have to be this way. In 2021 Labour’s New Deal For Workers(written by @andymcdonaldmp.bsky.social) included a proposal for directors to be held liable for non-payment of tribunal awards. This didn’t make it into the Employment Rights Bill. www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
October 11, 2025 at 11:05 AM
But it doesn’t have to be this way. In 2021 Labour’s New Deal For Workers(written by @andymcdonaldmp.bsky.social) included a proposal for directors to be held liable for non-payment of tribunal awards. This didn’t make it into the Employment Rights Bill. www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
Citizens advice told us about other tricks companies pull. For example restaurants that transfer the lease to a new company, so when bailiffs arrive they can show the restaurant is no longer owned by the company that was ordered to pay the award.
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
October 11, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Citizens advice told us about other tricks companies pull. For example restaurants that transfer the lease to a new company, so when bailiffs arrive they can show the restaurant is no longer owned by the company that was ordered to pay the award.
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
Another case: Raf was awarded £30,000 & his employer, Crussh,went into administration. Shortly after a company director messaged him gloating about not having to pay the award
“Glad you didn’t get a penny from your claim as you don’t deserve fck all”
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
“Glad you didn’t get a penny from your claim as you don’t deserve fck all”
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
October 11, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Another case: Raf was awarded £30,000 & his employer, Crussh,went into administration. Shortly after a company director messaged him gloating about not having to pay the award
“Glad you didn’t get a penny from your claim as you don’t deserve fck all”
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
“Glad you didn’t get a penny from your claim as you don’t deserve fck all”
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
What’s egregious about this case is that Rosie’s boss flaunts his personal wealth. In YouTube videos he brags about owning a BMW and a Range Rover, and wears a Rolex that costs more than what he owes Rosie. www.instagram.com/reel/DPTOC4A...
October 11, 2025 at 10:26 AM
What’s egregious about this case is that Rosie’s boss flaunts his personal wealth. In YouTube videos he brags about owning a BMW and a Range Rover, and wears a Rolex that costs more than what he owes Rosie. www.instagram.com/reel/DPTOC4A...
The stress of facing many company witnesses & an experienced barrister led to Raf being diagnosed with anxiety.
"If I can compare the stress to anything I experienced in my life, it was two and a half years ago when my mother was passing away from cancer"
He was awarded £30,000, but was never paid
"If I can compare the stress to anything I experienced in my life, it was two and a half years ago when my mother was passing away from cancer"
He was awarded £30,000, but was never paid
October 9, 2025 at 7:25 AM
The stress of facing many company witnesses & an experienced barrister led to Raf being diagnosed with anxiety.
"If I can compare the stress to anything I experienced in my life, it was two and a half years ago when my mother was passing away from cancer"
He was awarded £30,000, but was never paid
"If I can compare the stress to anything I experienced in my life, it was two and a half years ago when my mother was passing away from cancer"
He was awarded £30,000, but was never paid
Nadine was under so much stress from preparing her case that her blood pressure spiked & she was referred to hospital.
"I couldn’t leave my bed for two months before the hearing. It was the worst stage of my life"
Finally, the tribunal awarded her £65,000, but she didn't see a penny of this money.
"I couldn’t leave my bed for two months before the hearing. It was the worst stage of my life"
Finally, the tribunal awarded her £65,000, but she didn't see a penny of this money.
October 9, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Nadine was under so much stress from preparing her case that her blood pressure spiked & she was referred to hospital.
"I couldn’t leave my bed for two months before the hearing. It was the worst stage of my life"
Finally, the tribunal awarded her £65,000, but she didn't see a penny of this money.
"I couldn’t leave my bed for two months before the hearing. It was the worst stage of my life"
Finally, the tribunal awarded her £65,000, but she didn't see a penny of this money.
I'm glad the government will not introduce employment tribunal fees, but it's not true that "everyone, no matter their income" can get "access to justice" under the current system.
The barriers are endless & if you overcome them & win, you still might not even get the money you are owed
The barriers are endless & if you overcome them & win, you still might not even get the money you are owed
October 9, 2025 at 7:25 AM
I'm glad the government will not introduce employment tribunal fees, but it's not true that "everyone, no matter their income" can get "access to justice" under the current system.
The barriers are endless & if you overcome them & win, you still might not even get the money you are owed
The barriers are endless & if you overcome them & win, you still might not even get the money you are owed
This Crussh Millbank branch (now named Artisan Fork) is popular with journalists and politicians, so much so that when it originally closed @politico.eu's London Playbook wrote about it.
A former Tory leadership contender even announced his campaign launch on its doorsteps.
A former Tory leadership contender even announced his campaign launch on its doorsteps.
October 7, 2025 at 7:27 AM
This Crussh Millbank branch (now named Artisan Fork) is popular with journalists and politicians, so much so that when it originally closed @politico.eu's London Playbook wrote about it.
A former Tory leadership contender even announced his campaign launch on its doorsteps.
A former Tory leadership contender even announced his campaign launch on its doorsteps.
Like Crussh's director suggested in this message, by going into administration, the company wouldn't have to pay the tribunal award.
But as this is all going on, the same group of directors reopen Crussh's Millbank branch under a new name: Artisan Fork.
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
But as this is all going on, the same group of directors reopen Crussh's Millbank branch under a new name: Artisan Fork.
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
October 7, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Like Crussh's director suggested in this message, by going into administration, the company wouldn't have to pay the tribunal award.
But as this is all going on, the same group of directors reopen Crussh's Millbank branch under a new name: Artisan Fork.
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
But as this is all going on, the same group of directors reopen Crussh's Millbank branch under a new name: Artisan Fork.
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
Thanks @jim.londoncentric.media for citing our investigation into the thousands of companies that ignore employment tribunal judgments.
As it happenned one of the people we covered was Preston Benson, which @londoncentric.media did a deep-dive on days earlier
www.londoncentric.media/p/preston-be...
As it happenned one of the people we covered was Preston Benson, which @londoncentric.media did a deep-dive on days earlier
www.londoncentric.media/p/preston-be...
October 6, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Thanks @jim.londoncentric.media for citing our investigation into the thousands of companies that ignore employment tribunal judgments.
As it happenned one of the people we covered was Preston Benson, which @londoncentric.media did a deep-dive on days earlier
www.londoncentric.media/p/preston-be...
As it happenned one of the people we covered was Preston Benson, which @londoncentric.media did a deep-dive on days earlier
www.londoncentric.media/p/preston-be...
We asked the government for the names of companies that had not paid tribunal awards via FOI.
The government refused & said that publishing the names would give information to “hostile actors who may pose a threat to the health and safety of employers”
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
The government refused & said that publishing the names would give information to “hostile actors who may pose a threat to the health and safety of employers”
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
October 6, 2025 at 7:37 AM
We asked the government for the names of companies that had not paid tribunal awards via FOI.
The government refused & said that publishing the names would give information to “hostile actors who may pose a threat to the health and safety of employers”
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
The government refused & said that publishing the names would give information to “hostile actors who may pose a threat to the health and safety of employers”
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
There are many ways bosses avoid paying.Some close companies & reopen them under a different name. Others will empty out business accounts. Restaurants might even lease the premises to a new company, owned by the same directors that owned the old company
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
October 2, 2025 at 7:46 AM
There are many ways bosses avoid paying.Some close companies & reopen them under a different name. Others will empty out business accounts. Restaurants might even lease the premises to a new company, owned by the same directors that owned the old company
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
Raf worked for a cafe chain popular with MPs & journalists. He won his case, but the company went insolvent. Then the directors reopened one of the branches
One of the directors wrote to him saying "go fck yourself" & he was glad he "didn't get a penny"
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
One of the directors wrote to him saying "go fck yourself" & he was glad he "didn't get a penny"
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
October 2, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Raf worked for a cafe chain popular with MPs & journalists. He won his case, but the company went insolvent. Then the directors reopened one of the branches
One of the directors wrote to him saying "go fck yourself" & he was glad he "didn't get a penny"
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
One of the directors wrote to him saying "go fck yourself" & he was glad he "didn't get a penny"
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
Rosie tried everything to get the £6,000 she was awarded. She even spoke to her MP & the employment minister - they didn't help.
Her boss has the cash. In videos he brags about his expensive cars & has a Rolex that's worth more than what he owes her.
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
Her boss has the cash. In videos he brags about his expensive cars & has a Rolex that's worth more than what he owes her.
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
October 2, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Rosie tried everything to get the £6,000 she was awarded. She even spoke to her MP & the employment minister - they didn't help.
Her boss has the cash. In videos he brags about his expensive cars & has a Rolex that's worth more than what he owes her.
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
Her boss has the cash. In videos he brags about his expensive cars & has a Rolex that's worth more than what he owes her.
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
Nadine was awarded £65,000 after she was unfairly sacked by Peckahm Levels for whistleblowing.Two months after the tribunal awarded her the money, her employer went insolvent.
She didn't see a penny, but paid a price.Preparing the case ravaged her health
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
She didn't see a penny, but paid a price.Preparing the case ravaged her health
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
October 2, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Nadine was awarded £65,000 after she was unfairly sacked by Peckahm Levels for whistleblowing.Two months after the tribunal awarded her the money, her employer went insolvent.
She didn't see a penny, but paid a price.Preparing the case ravaged her health
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
She didn't see a penny, but paid a price.Preparing the case ravaged her health
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
Brits have been consistently misled by both the media and politicians on immigration. I can't imagine that these people didn't know what they were doing.
And it's nothing new. Polling as far back as 2013 show this country has a warped idea of immigration.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
And it's nothing new. Polling as far back as 2013 show this country has a warped idea of immigration.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
August 5, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Brits have been consistently misled by both the media and politicians on immigration. I can't imagine that these people didn't know what they were doing.
And it's nothing new. Polling as far back as 2013 show this country has a warped idea of immigration.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
And it's nothing new. Polling as far back as 2013 show this country has a warped idea of immigration.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
At a time when asylum accommodation is being actively targetted by the far right, the government is drawing up lists of where they are located and sharing them with private entities.
I can't help but think that this will significantly increase the risk of these addresses being leaked.
I can't help but think that this will significantly increase the risk of these addresses being leaked.
July 23, 2025 at 7:46 PM
At a time when asylum accommodation is being actively targetted by the far right, the government is drawing up lists of where they are located and sharing them with private entities.
I can't help but think that this will significantly increase the risk of these addresses being leaked.
I can't help but think that this will significantly increase the risk of these addresses being leaked.
Our latest on the seasonal worker visa.
What jumped out at me when reading this government-commissioned report is that farm-owners will quite openly say that they prefer migrant workers to accrue huge levels of debt, because this pushes them to work harder so that they can pay it off.
What jumped out at me when reading this government-commissioned report is that farm-owners will quite openly say that they prefer migrant workers to accrue huge levels of debt, because this pushes them to work harder so that they can pay it off.
June 3, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Our latest on the seasonal worker visa.
What jumped out at me when reading this government-commissioned report is that farm-owners will quite openly say that they prefer migrant workers to accrue huge levels of debt, because this pushes them to work harder so that they can pay it off.
What jumped out at me when reading this government-commissioned report is that farm-owners will quite openly say that they prefer migrant workers to accrue huge levels of debt, because this pushes them to work harder so that they can pay it off.
The Employment Rights Bill has been called the biggest boost to worker rights in a generation,but huge gaps remain in enforcing these rights.
So we're investigating the barriers workers face when they seek justice at tribunals.
But we need your help!
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
So we're investigating the barriers workers face when they seek justice at tribunals.
But we need your help!
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
March 25, 2025 at 9:07 AM
The Employment Rights Bill has been called the biggest boost to worker rights in a generation,but huge gaps remain in enforcing these rights.
So we're investigating the barriers workers face when they seek justice at tribunals.
But we need your help!
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
So we're investigating the barriers workers face when they seek justice at tribunals.
But we need your help!
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
This is what “Milei’s energy” looks like.
March 13, 2025 at 3:52 PM
This is what “Milei’s energy” looks like.
The PCS branch has confirmed the strikes at 10 Downing Street on Twitter/X. You can follow their updates here:
x.com/PCSUnionBeis...
x.com/PCSUnionBeis...
February 11, 2025 at 11:09 AM
The PCS branch has confirmed the strikes at 10 Downing Street on Twitter/X. You can follow their updates here:
x.com/PCSUnionBeis...
x.com/PCSUnionBeis...
Cleaners working at 10 Downing Street and the Cabinet Office are taking strike action from 24 February over pay & conditions, according to sources at their union, PCS.
This is ironic considering Keir Starmer's earlier statements that
"the days when low pay and cheap labour...must end"
This is ironic considering Keir Starmer's earlier statements that
"the days when low pay and cheap labour...must end"
February 11, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Cleaners working at 10 Downing Street and the Cabinet Office are taking strike action from 24 February over pay & conditions, according to sources at their union, PCS.
This is ironic considering Keir Starmer's earlier statements that
"the days when low pay and cheap labour...must end"
This is ironic considering Keir Starmer's earlier statements that
"the days when low pay and cheap labour...must end"