Harrods staff plan strike over Christmas while owners give themselves £180m in bonuses

Rising grievances over staff shortages and fair pay guarantees have driven restaurant, kitchen, and cleaning staff at the department store Harrods to ballot for strike action

Staff at luxury department store Harrods are preparing to strike over Christmas.

Over 250 retail, restaurant, kitchen, and cleaning workers at the Knightsbridge, London store are looking to take the action over working conditions and demands for a Christmas bonus.

They are represented by the United Voices of the World union, which has sent Harrods a Notice of Intention to Ballot which closes on December 4, with strike action expected to commence on December 19.

The world-famous luxury London store reportedly handed out £180 million in bonuses to its owners and awarded a £2.1 million salary to its Managing Director - but frontline staff have faced stripped benefits, staff shortages and stagnant wages.

Potential action comes in response to rising grievances, particularly over staff shortages, guarantees on fair pay rises in line with RPI inflation, scrapping the cover charge in restaurants and the need for transparency over the distribution of service charge. Many benefits, such as a Christmas bonus and voluntary bank holiday work for cleaning staff have been whittled away.

UVW said Harrods’ management has so far refused to engage or even recognise the workers’ union, ignoring their demands. This will be UVW's fifth campaign at Harrods, following four previous wins for tips, substantial pay rises and against unfair leave policies.

Harrods has a troubling history of poor treatment of its workforce, including serious allegations of rape and sexual abuse against former owner Mohammed Al Fayed.

In 2017, UVW secured 100% of the service charge for chefs and waiters, when up to 75% was previously withheld by Harrods. In December 2021, restaurant workers won a nearly 25% pay rise, setting a new pay benchmark in the sector.

Earlier this year, workers had to threaten to strike again to secure a pay review effective from April 2024 and during the summer migrant night cleaners had to be balloted to strike over new holiday policies which severely restricted their ability to travel back home to their families to countries such as India. The guidelines were revoked.

Alice Howick, Harrods waiter and member of UVW, said: "The expectations of our employer have increased if anything - they always look for staff to make more money (for the business) and for that the service has to be exceptional - but when we are not given the tools to do that it can be very difficult.“

Petros Elia, general secretary of UVW, said: "Much like a modern-day Scrooge, Harrods is denying Christmas bonuses and fair wages for its dedicated workforce, prioritising profits and paying grotesque sums to its owners - the richest people in the world - over the well-being of those who contribute to its impressive financial results.

"Without immediate action, Harrods may face a Christmas season of strikes.”

The Mirror has contacted Harrods for comment.