Hundreds of Harrods’ workers have voted to strike over the Christmas period after the luxury retailer refused to negotiate with their union and their demands for a £500 bonus.
Strikes could start as early as December 19 after 95 per cent of United Voices of the World (UVW) members, a union representing Harrods’ workers, voted in favour of industrial action in a ballot which closed on Wednesday, December 4.
They are calling for an annual inflation-busting pay rise, more staff across departments, the end of mandatory bank holiday work for cleaners and a daily meal allowance for restaurant and kitchen staff. UVW is also calling on monthly reporting over how the service charge is handed out and an end to the cover charge.
They also want to end what they claim is forcing part-time cleaners to work nine days straight. They also want a £500 Christmas bonus, starting this year. The union said their demands come as the store paid out £180m in bonuses to its owners and awarded a £2.1m salary to its managing director, Michael Ward.
Alice Howick, a Harrods waiter, said the strike was a “last resort”. She said: “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.”
Cleaner Ana Ferreira accused Harrods of treating workers “like machines”. UVW’s general secretary Petros Elia claimed employees were still feeling the impact of a “prevailing and deep-rooted toxic culture”.
He said: “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.”
UVW is calling on Harrods to join them in negotiations. According to the union, until 2017, Harrods withheld up to 75 per cent of the service charge for kitchen staff and waiters.
It said in 2021, workers received an “unprecedented” 25pc pay rise while this summer, night cleaners voted to strike over new holiday policies that made it difficult for them to visit families in countries like India. These guidelines were ultimately revoked.
The treatment of Harrods’ workers has hit the headlines in recent months after serious allegations surfaced of rape and sexual abuse against female staff by the former owner Mohammed Al Fayed.
Harrods has been contacted for comment.
