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20.09.2024 / News / HARRODS

Harrods’ workers reject claim that “Harrods is today a very different organisation”

United Voices of the World (UVW) union statement on the sickening revelations about former, and now deceased, Harrods’ billionaire boss and predator Mohamed Al Fayed, and the claim that “Harrods is today a very different organisation”.

As the union for Harrods’ workers in cleaning, retail and restaurants we are disgusted and outraged to learn that since Al Fayed took control of Harrods in 1985 he raped, attempted to rape, assaulted and groomed over 20 women and counting, including his personal assistants, a minor and teenagers.

He committed his predatory, monstrous and criminal acts in the store, at his various homes in England and abroad, and at hotels on business trips over the course of the 25 years he was in control of Harrods. Despite the first survivors coming forward in the late 1980s and the media reporting on more allegations in 1995, 1997 and 2017, Harrods never did anything about it. 

The CPS also chose not to prosecute him when they had the chance to do so in 2009, when led by now Prime Minister, Keir Starmer. 

Harrods claims that “The Harrods of today is a very different organisation… it is one that seeks to put the welfare of our employees at the heart of everything we do.” That is not the experience of many of our members who have now chosen to speak up. 

In reply to Harrods’ claims that it is a “very different organisation”, UVW member and current employee of Harrods says:

“Harrods is a company that is rotten to its core, continuing to foster a culture of secrecy and fear among the workplace. The imbalance of power within the company makes it impossible for workers to be sure that any concerns they have will be acknowledged and dealt with accordingly. Rather, senior people at Harrods continue to seek to absolve themselves of responsibility when it comes to important issues such as the welfare of their employees conducting a series of carefully articulated cover ups. The general feeling among Harrods’ workers is that we are at the bottom of the company’s priorities, forced into submission with the odds stacked against us.”

UVW have written to Harrods to demand an urgent meeting with our reps to discuss our members’ concerns. However, Abi Weeks, Chief People Officer of Harrods, has disappointingly but unsurprisingly refused to meet stating “we are confident that the concerns you have raised can be addressed without the need for a third party.”

If Harrods continues to refuse to engage with UVW and our members – their employees – we will be left with no choice but to ballot them, yet again, for industrial action.

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