Harrods employees are set to strike over the festive period due to unresolved pay disputes and poor working conditions.
- Cleaners, shop floor, and restaurant staff are involved in the strike.
- The strike is planned for 21, 22, and 26 December if demands are not met.
- Union claims management refuses to negotiate, prompting a 95% vote in favour of striking.
- Employees have been denied bonuses despite high payouts to executives.
Harrods staff, including cleaners, shop floor workers, and restaurant staff, have announced their intention to strike on key dates near Christmas due to ongoing disputes over pay and working conditions. The United Voices of the World (UVW) union represents these workers, who claim that management has continually dismissed their demands for a Christmas bonus and improved conditions. The proposed strike is scheduled to commence at 8pm on Friday, 20 December, continuing until 9.30pm on Sunday, 22 December, and resuming from midnight to 9.30pm on Boxing Day, 26 December.
The decision to strike follows a significant vote, where 95% of union members at Harrods’ Knightsbridge location supported the action. According to union statements, Harrods has been unresponsive to critical issues such as low pay, staff shortages, and excessive workloads. Despite the challenges faced by workers, the company’s executives and owners have reportedly received substantial financial rewards.
Employees allege that management has not engaged with the UVW for negotiations, leading to rising frustrations. The union highlighted that Harrods’ owners gained £180 million in dividends last year, and the managing director received a salary of £2.1 million, while workers’ wages remained unchanged. This dissatisfaction is exacerbated by the lack of Christmas bonuses and the conditions of mandatory bank holiday shifts for certain staff.
The UVW union emphasises that the strike is a response to growing grievances about management practices. Workers are demanding not only an above-inflation pay rise but also the institution of a Christmas bonus starting at £500. Furthermore, they seek the cessation of compulsory bank holiday work for cleaners, better handling of service charge distributions in restaurants, and greater transparency in these processes. A Harrods spokesperson acknowledged the workforce’s contributions and reaffirmed the intent to work directly with employees on their concerns, while maintaining communication with recognised unions.
The impending strike at Harrods underscores the critical need for addressing employee grievances and establishing fair negotiations.
