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“There’s a real sense that everyone’s fed up and has had enough, and we’re ready to push for more. It feels like they throw us breadcrumbs and expect us to accept it, while they only seem to care about their own business interests. It’s on us to stand up and ensure workers are protected, and we’re prepared to strike to make that happen.”
Alice Howick, Harrods waiter and member of UVW
Instead of a Christmas carol, Harrods is singing from the same old tune of neglect Much like a modern-day Scrooge, Harrods is denying Christmas bonuses, fair wages and working conditions for its dedicated workforce, prioritising profits and paying grotesque sums to its owners – among the richest people in the world. Hundreds of workers across Harrods’ retail, restaurant, kitchen and cleaning departments have had enough and yet again are going to be balloted for strike action over the busy Christmas season unless the luxury London store promptly addresses their demands. This will be UVW’s fifth campaign at Harrods, and the third strike ballot, following four previous wins for tips, substantial pay rises and against unfair leave policies.
With the world-famous luxury London store handing out £180 million in bonuses to its owners and awarding a £2.1 million salary to its Managing Director, workers are questioning why they’re facing stripped benefits, overwork due to staff shortages and stagnant wages.
Lourenco Hernandes, Harrods cleaner from Goa and UVW member explained to us what;’s been going in on in the iconic London luxury store:
“Conditions in the cleaning department have been getting worse. People feel disrespected and bullied, and some of us, the part-time cleaners, are forced to work 9 days in a row, which means we hardly ever get a weekend off. This is really difficult because we have very early starts. It’s not easy to wake up at 3 or 4 in the morning every day for 9 days straight. People are struggling, stressed, and even getting sick from the strain. We want this changed to 5-day rotas.”
“One of the biggest problems is the staff shortage.” Lourence continued. “We used to have some 60 cleaners on the early morning shift, and now there are less than half that. We’re doing more than double the work. Harrods is getting bigger, but the cleaning staff is shrinking, which is why it is now mandatory to work Bank Holidays (before it was voluntary) and days off get refused, and so on. We need more staff to allow some flexibility. But they keep telling us it’s not possible. Management doesn’t seem to be taking us seriously, but this has to stop now.”
The potential strikes come in response to rising grievances, particularly over staff shortages, guarantees on fair pay rises in line with RPI inflation, scrapping the cover charge in restaurants and the need for transparency over the distribution of service charge.
Alice from one of the restaurants told us:
“It’s very hard work. We have hundreds of covers each day and in the busier periods it’s non-stop, we are running around most of the time and we’ve been struggling with staff shortages and working conditions. We really feel the standards have slipped in the last few years. The expectations of our employer have increased if anything – they always look for staff to make more money (for the business) and for that the service has to be exceptional – but when we are not given the tools to do that it can be very difficult.“
“We are asking for Harrods to remove the cover charge, and we are asking for more transparency with regards to the distribution of the service charge, who’s getting it and what they are getting. This ought to be a monthly or even a weekly report.”
“We are supposed to get 100% of the service charge and we also get cash tips but we believe there are people who aren’t entitled to the service charge who are getting it because the numbers just don’t seem to add up.”
The workers, represented by United Voices of the World (UVW) union, have served Harrods with an official notice of intention to ballot – which closes on December 4 – signalling a strong possibility of strikes during the retailer’s busiest season commencing on 19 December, and following Harrods’ management refusal to recognise or engage with their union for negotiations.
Many benefits, like a Christmas bonus and voluntary bank holiday work for cleaning staff have been whittled away.
“We want Bank Holidays to be voluntary, as they used to be. We don’t want to be forced to work on Bank Holidays” – Lourenco says. “Management should just post a request, and those who want to work for extra pay can, while others can spend that time with their families. That’s how it used to be; now it’s mandatory, which isn’t fair. We want this policy changed.”
“We are also asking for a meal allowance and a Xmas bonus to help us cope with the cost of living.” Alice adds. We work in central London but can’t cope with the prices there because of our low salaries.”
Harrods has a troubling history of poor treatment of its workforce, including serious allegations of rape and sexual abuse against former owner Mohammed Al Fayed. In 2017, UVW secured 100% of the service charge for chefs and waiters, when up to 75% was previously withheld by Harrods. In December 2021, restaurant workers won a nearly 25% pay rise, setting a new pay benchmark in the sector. Earlier this year, workers had to threaten to strike again to secure a pay review effective from April 2024 and during the summer migrant night cleaners had to be balloted to strike over new holiday policies which severely restricted their ability to travel back home to their families to countries such as India. The guidelines were revoked.
This is the third time UVW members at Harrods have to vote to strike yet again to be heard, respected and treated with dignity at work.
As the union representing over 250 retail, cleaning and hospitality workers at Harrods, UVW has called on the store to stop ignoring its workforce and engage with UVW to avoid strike action over Christmas.
Without immediate action, Harrods may face a Christmas season of strikes.
20.11.2024 / Natural History and Science Museums
18.11.2024 / Natural History and Science Museums
12.11.2024 / Battersea Power Station / Justice for Cleaners
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