20.08.2026 / Press releases / BUTLINS

Butlin’s Resort Safety Officers call on MPs, clients and partners to intervene as continuous strike action looms 

• Butlin’s CEO Jon Hendry Pickup must act now to avert planned days of strike action over the August Bank Holiday and September at Bognor Regis, say Resort Safety officers. 

• UVW is mobilising local MPs, Butlin’s clients, charity partners and other stakeholders to press CEO Jon Hendry Pickup to take responsibility for averting the strikes by getting round the table with workers and their union. 

• Walkouts are confirmed for 28–30 August, 4–7 September and 10–15 September, followed by continuous strike action from 21 September at Butlin’s Bognor Regis resort. 


 

Resort Safety Officers at Butlin’s Bognor Regis are calling on CEO Jon Hendry Pickup to avert planned strike action by urgently sitting down with them and their union. United Voices of the World (UVW) to negotiate a resolution to the ongoing dispute.
 

The workers, who voted 100% in favour of strike action, are doing everything possible to avoid walking out.
 

UVW is contacting local MPs, Butlin’s clients and partners, community organisations and other stakeholders, asking them to urge CEO Jon Hendry Pickup to meet with the workers and their union of choice and resolve the dispute through negotiation.
 

Walkouts are confirmed for 28–30 August, 4–7 September and 10–15 September, followed by continuous strike action from 21 September at Butlin’s Bognor Regis resort. 

The Resort Safety Officers are responsible for responding to incidents across the resort, including violence and aggression, lost children and medical emergencies. They say chronic understaffing, faulty equipment, lack of paid breaks, what they believe are unlawful wage deductions and poor management are undermining their ability to keep guests and colleagues safe.
 

The workers’ position is clear: striking is a last resort. They want Butlin’s CEO to negotiate instead.
 

The dispute comes as Butlin’s celebrates its 90th anniversary of family holidays and seeks further recognition at the British Travel Awards. Butlin’s reported £28.3 million in pre-tax profits in 2024, according to accounts filed at Companies House.
 

Separately, workers say they raised fire safety concerns for more than three years, including concerns about fire doors and external cladding. They say some of these concerns only began to be addressed in early August 2026, after workers unionised and UVW warned that formal complaints could follow.
 

Nelly Ospino, General Secretary of United Voices of the World (UVW), said:
 

“Our members have been absolutely clear: they do not want to strike. They want Butlin’s to sit down with them and negotiate a solution.
That is why we are doing everything possible to avert this strike. We are reaching out to MPs, Butlin’s clients and partners, community organisations and others who have a stake in the reputation of this company, asking them to urge Jon Hendry Pickup to get round the table with the workers and their union of choice.
These workers have repeatedly raised concerns about staffing, equipment, breaks, pay and working conditions. They should not have to strike simply to get management to engage with them.
Butlin’s is celebrating 90 years of bringing families together. The people responsible for keeping those families safe deserve to be listened to and treated with the same care and respect that Butlin’s promises to its guests. There is still time to avert these strikes. Jon Hendry Pickup can sit down with the workers and UVW, negotiate in good faith and find a resolution. We are asking him to do exactly that.”
 
 
Max, Resort Safety Officer and UVW member, said:
 
 

“We don’t want to strike. We want to do our jobs properly and keep guests and colleagues safe. Every day, we dedicate ourselves fully to our work, consistently going above and beyond to embody the Butlin’s values of creating smiles, getting stuck in and caring for one another. But we need that same commitment from management. We have repeatedly raised concerns about staffing, equipment and working conditions that make our jobs harder and less safe. We are now asking Jon Hendry Pickup to meet with us and our union, listen to our concerns and negotiate a solution. If Butlin’s comes to the table, we are ready to talk.”
 
  

ABOUT THE DISPUTE 

• The workers’ demands include: 

• Recruitment of at least five additional permanent Resort Safety Officers 

• Reliable and properly maintained equipment 

• Changes to management and workplace practices 

• Paid night-shift breaks 

• Repayment of wages workers say were unlawfully deducted 

• A pay rise to £14 an hour 

• Voluntary recognition of UVW as their union 

• Reinstatement of a colleague workers believe was unfairly dismissed
 
   
    

For further information, contact the UVW communications team:
 
Isabel: 07706 987443
 
Cristina: 07548 759340
 
Email: comms@uvwunion.org.uk 
 
ENDS  

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