29.07.2024 / Press releases /

 Harrods’ migrant cleaners ready to strike against discriminatory new holiday policy 

 Harrods’ migrant cleaners ready to strike against discriminatory new holiday policy 

• Harrods night cleaners prepare to strike over  a new leave policy implemented by the world-famous luxury London store.     
• The new policy limits holidays to a maximum of two weeks, which severely restricts the ability of over 50 migrant workers to visit their families abroad.
• The world-famous store, which celebrates its 175 anniversary this year, has dismissed the cleaners’ concerns.    
• Their union, United Voices of the World (UVW), has informed Harrods of the workers’ intention to ballot for a strike, with strike dates to be announced soon.
• Given the potentially discriminatory implications of the policy, UVW is also exploring legal action.
• This will be UVW’s fourth campaign at Harrods, following three previous wins for tips and substantial pay rises for waiting and kitchen staff.

Migrant night cleaners at Harrods are voting to strike against a potentially discriminatory holiday policy that severely restricts their ability to take time off to visit their families abroad. They are all UVW members.

Harrods, a 175-year-old institution, has introduced a draconian policy limiting holidays to a maximum of two weeks for all facilities workers. This sudden and unjust change has particularly impacted the diverse workforce of cleaners, most which hail from Asia and Africa, including places as far as Goa and the Philippines. 

These employees often save for several years to travel long distances to visit

their families. They are not able to take several shorter trips in a year. 

In June, Harrods’ facilities workers received notification of new guidelines which has made it nearly impossible to secure more than two weeks of leave. Despite raising concerns about unfairness and impracticality of this policy via their union, the luxury store has completely ignored the workers’ concerns with directors and HR personnel stating “we have to take care of our business, we don’t care.”  

Those who had already arranged and paid for their holidays have been left scrambling to cancel or change their plans and, since the policy’s announcement, the company has turned down holiday requests longer than two weeks.

In response to this blatant disregard for their rights, the cleaners have instructed their union United Voices of the World (UVW) to send Harrods a Notice of Intention to Ballot (NOIB). Strike dates will be announced soon.

UVW calls on Harrods to immediately revoke the unfair holiday policy and to engage in meaningful dialogue with its employees to ensure fair treatment for all. 

Harrods has a history of poor treatment of its workforce, prompting UVW’s fourth campaign to defend workers’ rights at the store. In 2017, UVW secured 100% of the service charge for chefs and waiters, previously withheld up to 75% 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.

Maclino Rodrigues, Harrods night cleaner of eight years said:

“I am a migrant worker with two children, our families are in India and traveling there is not easy. The ticket prices are so high during the children’s school holiday. We can’t leave them here. I haven’t seen my family for three years! We explained all of this, and I was very surprised that their response was “we have to take care of our business, we don’t care”. They say these changes are supposed to provide cover for the peak periods, but we are behind the scenes, the daytime cleaners face the customers. We are working in the restaurant and escalators, we sweep, remove the trash, and make ready for the next day. I feel like they are introducing these changes because they want to get rid of us or reduce staff. We have worked at Harrods for more than a decade, we are many and we are united. They know we know our rights, with new staff, this might not be the case. No-one wants to go on strike, everyone needs to work, we have used up all other options; we have raised it verbally, formally and informally and tried to solve this amicably. They just don’t seem to care, they are reluctant to listen to us, it’s like they have no empathy.”

Agnelo Fernandes, Harrods night cleaner of 10 years said:

 
“They are seeing us one by one and putting pressure on us to cancel our leave. They make up their own rules, there are different rules for those working in distribution and store service. My wife is worried about the money we will lose if they decline our holidays for this year. If I have to change my tickets and purchase new tickets, I will lose £2,500. We work so hard, if we lose this money which is two months’ salary, it will be difficult to pay the bills. So we are ready, each and every one of us have decided to go out on strike. It’s as if they want us to leave. I don’t have plans to leave, I came here to work.”

Edwin D’Souza, Harrods night cleaner of nine years said:

“In nine years I have never been to India over Xmas and now I am going to my niece’s wedding. The manager called me to ask about the three weeks I’d booked for my holiday that he approved in March, and after that he asked me to cancel it. I explained it was my sisters’ daughters’ wedding. He agreed to it and I bought tickets for me and  my three children. Then they introduced the guidelines. The big manager told me I can only go for two weeks, not three weeks. The problem is, to change the tickets it will cost us £700  each. I asked my manager ‘will the company pay this?’ and he said it’s not their problem. When I showed them the tickets, the manager said you have to do me a favour and cancel the leave. I said why don’t you do me a favour. He just shook his head. This made me feel angry.  I am ready to strike.”

Petros Elia, general secretary of UVW Union: 

 “Harrods is celebrating its 175th anniversary, but it seems they haven’t learned a thing about treating their workers with respect and dignity. It would seem this is a clear case of discrimination against migrant workers, who have always been able to take extended holidays to visit their families. This new policy could lead to a patently absurd and unconscionable situation where none of the facilities’ workers will ever be able to spend time with their families who live overseas. This cannot be the intended or permissible consequence of this policy and could very easily amount to indirect race discrimination. The story of these cleaners highlights a broader issue of how a multimillion-pound company for the rich is undermining the welfare of its migrant workforce, an all-too-common occurrence. These workers are not asking for anything unreasonable; they are simply asking for time with their families, and if they can afford to travel twice a year. They are ready to fight and UVW will support them like we have done, again and

again.”

For further information contact the UVW comms team.

Cristina: 07548 759340 

Isabel: 07706 987443

Jim: 07749 765264

E-mail: comms@uvwunion.org.uk 

About UVW

United Voices of the World is an anti-racist, member-led, direct action, campaigning trade union and we exist to support and empower the most vulnerable groups of precarious, low-paid and predominantly BAME and migrant workers in the UK. We fight the bosses through direct action on the streets and through the courts and demand that all members receive at least the London Living Wage, full pay, sick pay, dignity, equality and respect.

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