20.09.2024 / Press releases / HARRODS

Harrods workers’ union statement on sickening revelations about predatory late boss

• United Voices of the World (UVW) union, who represents Harrods’ workers in cleaning, retail and restaurants, rejects the luxury department stores claim that “Harrods is today a very different organisation”
  
• UVW have written to Harrods to demand an urgent meeting with our reps to discuss our members’ concerns. The chief executive has been in position since 2005, when Al Fayed still owned and ran the company
  
• Harrods have disappointingly but unsurprisingly refused to meet with UVW reps, with Abi Weeks, Chief People Officer of Harrods saying they do not recognise the union which represents the bulk of workers in Harrods’ cleaning, retail and restaurants.

In reply to Harrods’ claim it is a “very different organisation”, a UVW member and current Harrods employee, said:

“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.”

Petros Elia, general secretary for UVW, said:

“We are disgusted and outraged to learn about Mohamed Al Fayed’ predatory, monstrous and criminal acts and we offer our full solidarity to his survivors. 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 might claim to be a very different organisation but that is not the experience of many of our members who have now chosen to speak up. 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.”

For further information contact the UVW comms team:

Jim: 07749 765264
Cristina: 07548 759340
Isabel: 07706 987443

E-mail: comms@uvwunion.org.uk  

Notes for editors

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.

UVW victories at Harrods

Harrods’ migrant cleaners call off strike after forcing policy change on annual leave
Harrods workers cancel Xmas strike after winning 25% pay rise
Victory at Harrods as workers win 100% of tips

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