A new ‘unmanned’ restaurant concept in Amsterdam, in which the guests cook for themselves from a short menu, is actually part of a campaign for better working conditions for waiting staff, cooks and cleaners.

The Foodsy restaurant was launched to considerable media coverage last week by top chef Edwin Saunder. The DIY eatery involved patrons cooking, serving and even paying the bill using the food, equipment and instructions provided.

On Monday, trade union federation FNV came clean about the stunt, publishing photographs of the mess left behind by diners. The aim is to launch a petition calling for better working conditions.

People working in the hotel, catering and restaurant sector have not been covered by a formal pay deal since April 2014, the union says. ‘The industry’s turnover has gone up for the eighth quarter in a row but the personnel have not benefited,’ the union said.