Mumbai's Leopold Cafe waiters 'forced out of job' Ten waiters at the bar, where 10 of the 166 killed throughout the city lost their lives, claim the bar is cashing in on their heroism that night but forcing them out of their jobs to avoid paying long service benefits. They marked the fourth anniversary of the attacks on Monday by staging a protest outside the bar, which was established in 1871 and remains popular with backpackers. Since the 2008 attacks its popularity has soared further among those who want to sit at the tables where terrorist gunmen opened fire with AK47s. Eyewitnesses later said two gunmen had been sitting among them in the bar and stood up to begin firing after a waiter saw one of them and dropped a plate in shock. Several of those shot and wounded were British backpackers planning long trips throughout India. They spoke of how waiters at the bar had helped usher them out to flee the carnage inside, but their bravery and the stress they suffered that night has never been acknowledged or compensated by their employer. Vishwas Utagi, of the All India Bank Employees Association, which is representing the waiters, claims the owner is forcing them out without cause when they have served long enough to earn higher benefit entitlements. They had been asked to sign blank papers which the owner has used to create 'resignation letters,' he said. They did a novel job during the attacks and saved the lives of more than 40 people without caring about themselves but the owners do not care about their sacrifices and dedication. The owners ask them to sign black papers and later produce them as resignations letters. Since, the workers were not organised, we helped them to form a union and take on the cafe owners. "The owners are reaping the 'benefits' of the attack, their turnover has increased manifold," he said. His union is demanding their reinstatement, compensation and a promise not to force them to buy their uniforms from their own wages. Staff had allegedly been denied overtime payments and forced to buy the trays they use to serve customers. Some complained they had been charged for dropping a clean paper napkin. The owner declined to comment.