10.12.2024 / Press releases / HARRODS

Hundreds of Harrods workers to strike over pre-Christmas weekend and Boxing Day as store refuses talks

• Hundreds of retail, restaurant, kitchen, and cleaning workers at Harrods will walk out of their jobs on the weekend of the 21 and 22 December as well as Boxing Day – the busiest retail dates of the year -if the luxury store continues to deny them a Christmas bonus and improved working conditions
  
• The workers returned a resounding yes vote with 95% in favour of strike action as Harrods’ management continued to ignore their demands and refused to  engage or even recognise the workers’ union, United Voices of the World (UVW)
  
• The workers’ pay and conditions have deteriorated even as the company rewards its owners and top executives with exorbitant payouts
  
• This is the second time Harrods’ workers have voted to strike this year and it is UVW’s fifth campaign at Harrods, following four previous wins for tips, substantial pay rises and against unfair leave policies.

Hundreds of workers across Harrods’ retail, restaurant, kitchen, and cleaning departments have announced they will walk out of their jobs in the midst of the Christmas shopping period, including the weekend of the 21 and 22 December and Boxing day, unless the luxury London store promptly addresses their demands for fair pay and working conditions.

The workers, represented by United Voices of the World (UVW) union, have had no option but to vote for strike yet again as Harrods’ management refuses  to recognise or engage with their union for negotiations. They will strike from 8pm on Friday 20 December to 9:30pm on Sunday 22 December, and 12am on 26 December to 9:30pm on Thursday 26 December.

Alice Howick, Harrods waiter and UVW member, said: 

“This is a momentous result and demonstrates just how ready we are to fight for what we deserve. The time has come for us, the workers, to put ourselves and our well-being first and push for more than the bare minimum. As one of the world’s leading luxury department stores, Harrods should be setting the standard for retail and hospitality workers. Instead, we are earning the living wage and denied basic benefits such as a food allowance and Christmas bonus – something which should be commonplace in a company accumulating millions of pounds in profit year on year. Striking is a last resort for us and will only happen if Harrods continues to be unreasonable in responding to our demands. All we ask is that Harrods respects its employees and agrees to negotiate with us, as members of the UVW union, so a conclusion can be reached.”

Ana Ferreira, Harrods cleaner and UVW member, said:

“In my 30 years in Harrods, I have learned that us cleaners are not given any value, we are seen as low people. I do this job because I’m a foreigner in this country and it’s the job that I can do and I had babies etc. so life got in the way. Harrods has been a total disappointment because they don’t seem to value the good workers. Unfortunately now, things have got so bad that they have managed to annoy all of us. We feel they are not treating people fairly, that they seem to think we are donkeys or machines… this had always been a bit like that but now it seems to have got worse.”

Petros Elia, general secretary for United Voice of the World, said:

“Contrary to what Harrods bosses say, we are still in a shameful period of their history. Their employees are still feeling the impact of a prevailing and deep-rooted toxic culture. Bosses at Harrods denying their dedicated workforce a Christmas bonuses and fair wages while lavishing obscene sums on its billionaire owners is proof. It’s outrageous that our members across retail, restaurant, kitchen and cleaning have had to vote to strike just to be heard. The workers have been left with no choice but to strike because management refuses to engage with them or even recognise their union. We call on Harrods to come to the table and negotiate so the store can remain open for Christmas shopping and continue to serve all Londoners this festive season.”

For further information contact the UVW comms team:

Cristina: 07548 759340

Isabel: 07706 987443

Jim: 07749 765264

E-mail: comms@uvwunion.org.uk  

Notes for editors

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:

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

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”

 

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