Hundreds of Harrods workers are set to strike during the busy Christmas season in a dispute over pay and working conditions.
Employees from the department store’s retail, restaurant, kitchen, and cleaning departments that are part of the United Voices of the World (UVW) union have voted in favour of industrial action on 19 December, with 95% backing the move.
The dispute arises from longstanding concerns over low pay, staff shortages, and excessive workloads. Workers claim management has repeatedly refused to engage with UVW to resolve their grievances, leaving them no choice but to pursue strike action.
Adding to frustrations, employees have been denied a Christmas bonus, as Harrods’ owners pocketed £180m in dividends last year. Meanwhile, the retailer’s managing director received a £2.1m salary, despite staff wages remaining stagnant.
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UVW members are requesting an annual bonus, guaranteed annual pay increase above RPI inflation, more staff across multiple departments and the tnd mandatory bank holiday work for cleaners.
It is also asking for the luxury department store to end the practice of forcing part-time cleaners to work 9 days straight, full transparency of the service charge,with monthly reporting, and a daily meal allowance for restaurants and kitchen workers.
Harrods waiter and UVW member Alice Howick said: “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.”
A Harrods spokesperson told Morning Star: “Those that have voted to strike, which amounts to 176 employees (approximately 10% of colleagues collectively in these specific affected areas), are a fractional minority of our workforce and we have contingency plans in place over the Christmas period to ensure our services are not disrupted by this planned action.
“We are committed to working with our colleagues directly to address concerns, as we have been to date and continue our constructive relationship with our recognised unions on pay and benefits.”
Harrods has been in the spotlight recently over serious allegations of rape and sexual abuse against its former owner, Mohammed Al Fayed.
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