23.12.2024 / Press releases /

Female union official assaulted three times on the picket line at Harrods suffers whiplash and fracture

• A female union official sustained whip lash and a fracture on the picket line after being violently assaulted three times by security guards at Harrods.
  
  
• The assaults on a female UVW union official took place on the 2nd day of strike action by hundreds of restaurant, retail and cleaning staff in the biggest strike Harrods has ever faced.
  
  
• Several security guards attempted to conceal their SIA badges and SIA numbers after the assault in an attempt to avoid being identified in breach of the law and SIA regulations.
  

• UVW condemns the excessive and unlawful use of force whilst workers and trade union representatives exercised their democratic right to picket and leaflet to raise awareness about why they are striking.
  
  
• Hundreds of retail, restaurant, kitchen, and cleaning workers at Harrods are on strike over deteriorating terms and conditions whilst the owners at Harrods – the richest family in the world, the Qatari royal family – awarded themselves a £180 million bonus.

Several security guards attempted to conceal their SIA badges and SIA numbers after assaulting a female union official, in an attempt to avoid being identified in breach of the law and SIA regulations. Their attempt at concealment can be seen in this video.

The violent assaults by security guards at Harrods took place on Sunday 22 December, the second day of strike action by hundreds of restaurant, retail and cleaning staff in the biggest strike Harrods has ever faced. 

Molly de Dios Fisher, UVW official was handing out leaflets at the entrance to Harrods by the tube exit when she was pushed to the ground for the first time. 

The second time at another entrance a short while later, De Dios Fisher was pushed to the ground with such force she fell and hit her head on the pavement leaving her with a fractured finger and whiplash.

The third time she was pushed to the ground someone filmed it which can be seen here on the union’s Instagram account which has already attracted thousands of views.

De Dios Fisher, UVW official said: 

“I was handing out leaflets. There were a number of security guards who were being quite unpleasant, rude and sarcastic. I was pushed so forcefully to the ground, several times.  The second time my neck went back sharply.  The third time someone filmed it, although it looked like a hard push, it was not as forceful as the previous security officers assault.  I have whiplash and a fractured finger as a result of their violence. There were a lot of people around so he could have easily pushed me into other members of the public. Luckily, no one else was hurt. I felt extremely shaken and upset.”

After the assault De Dios Fisher attempted to find out the security officers’ details, but they refused to give their names and concealed their SIA badges in breach of the law and SIA regulations.

“I was sent from door to door by his colleagues on what seemed like a wild goose chase. When I saw him his SIA badge was not on display, and he refused to give his name or SIA badge number. Again, he was gloating and suggesting I had thrown myself whilst refusing to provide details so that I could report him.”

Petros Elia, UVW General Secretary said:

“UVW represents hundreds of security guards at several sites, we know their job is not to antagonise and try and pick a fight. It is clear the guards at Harrods were acting on orders from above. How else can you explain the violent and aggressive treatment meted out to union officials and workers on strike exercising their right to picket and protest and leaflet entrances to tell members of the public about the dispute. The security guards even demanded that any customers who accepted a leaflet remove it from their pocket or bag before entering. Neither UVW officials nor the workers on strike tried to enter Harrods at any time and no one posed a threat to the guards. There was no justification whatsoever that the security officers who were about twice the size of Molly should have used such force – and violent force at that – against her.”

For further information contact:

Petros: 07884553443

E-mail: comms@uvwunion.org.uk  

Notes for editors

Hundreds of workers across Harrods’ retail, restaurant, kitchen, and cleaning departments will walk out of their jobs again on Boxing Day, if the luxury London store promptly addresses their demands for fair pay and working conditions. 

The workers’ demands are:    

1. Annual bonus, starting with a £500 Christmas bonus this year.
2. Guaranteed annual pay increase above RPI inflation.
3. More staff across multiple departments.
4. End mandatory bank holiday work for cleaners.
5. End the practice of forcing part-time cleaners to work 9 days straight.
6. Daily meal allowance for restaurants and kitchen workers.
7. Full transparency of the service charge, with monthly reporting.
8. End the cover charge or distribute it entirely to employees working in restaurants and kitchens. 

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.

More on Harrods campaigns:

Harrods’ migrant cleaners call off strike after forcing policy change on annual leave

UVW members at Harrods fight to see their families abroad

Harrods’ hospitality workers ready to strike for third time if 2024 pay promise not kept

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

Strike averted as workers celebrate huge 25% pay rise at Harrods

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