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24.08.2026 / News / BUTLINS

Butlin’s Resort Safety Officers announce strike action over August bank holiday weekend, escalating to continuous action from 21 September 

“We don’t want to strike. We want to do our jobs properly and keep guests and colleagues safe. But we need that same commitment from management.”

Max, Resort Safety Officer and UVW member

Resort Safety Officers at Butlin’s Bognor Regis will strike over the August Bank Holiday weekend and throughout September unless the company acts to resolve the dispute. Walkouts are confirmed for 28–30 August, 4–7 September and 10–15 September, followed by continuous strike action from 21 September. Workers are calling on Butlin’s CEO Jon Hendry Pickup to meet urgently with them and their union of choice, UVW, to negotiate a resolution and avert the escalating action.

The workers, members of United Voices of the World (UVW), voted 100% in favour of strike action after repeatedly raising concerns about staffing levels, safety, faulty equipment, pay and working conditions.

The Resort Safety Officers are responsible for responding to incidents across the resort, including violence and aggression, lost children and medical emergencies. Workers say chronic understaffing, unreliable equipment, a lack of paid night-shift breaks, wage deductions they believe were unlawful and poor management are making it harder for them to do their jobs safely and effectively.

“We have repeatedly raised concerns about staffing, equipment and working conditions that make our jobs harder and less safe,” said Resort Safety Officer and UVW member Alan Riley.

“We don’t want to strike. We want to do our jobs properly, with the staffing, equipment and support we need.”

UVW is also contacting local MPs, Butlin’s clients and partners, community organisations and other stakeholders, asking them to urge the company to get round the table with the workers before continuous strike action begins.

The dispute comes as Butlin’s celebrates its 90th anniversary of family holidays and seeks further recognition at the British Travel Awards. The company 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 issues only began to be addressed in early August 2026, after workers unionised and UVW warned that formal complaints could follow.

The workers’ demands include the 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 and the reinstatement of a colleague workers believe was unfairly dismissed.

Max, a Resort Safety Officer and UVW member, said the workers were ready to negotiate. “We are now asking Jon Hendry Pickup to meet with us and our union, listen to our concerns and negotiate a solution,” he said.“If Butlin’s comes to the table, we are ready to talk.”

With strike action beginning over the August Bank Holiday and escalating into continuous action from 21 September, workers say the company still has time to avoid disruption by listening to the people responsible for keeping guests and colleagues safe.

 

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