Hundreds of Harrods workers are set to walkout during the busy Christmas season in a dispute over pay and working conditions.
Employees from the 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 December 19, with 95% backing the move.
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.”
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.
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.”
