Harrods security staff to strike in the run-up to Christmas

By

Nigel TAYLOR

Published
Nov 25, 2022

Luxury London department store Harrods will be without uniformed security guards and CCTV operators from Friday and across every weekend in the run-up to Christmas unless a strike by union members can be averted.

Dozens of security staff are understood to have walked out during its Black Friday event with more than 50 staff members demonstrating outside the famous Knightsbridge store.

The strike is over a 7% pay offer from the Qatar Investment Authority-owned retailer, which the workers view as a 'pay cut' against the real rate of inflation. The union representing them cited Harrods’ annual profits of £51 million in 2021-22 and that fact that its managing director Michael Ward saw his pay doubled to £2.3 million.

Workers will strike on November 26 and 27, as well as on December 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 23, Christmas Eve, and Boxing Day. 
 
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Harrods and its owners… can absolutely afford to pay these workers a rise that reflects soaring living costs. Harrods, like many Qatari state enterprises, is known the world over for luxury and extravagance, an impression maintained off the backs of workers. Our members at Harrods have Unite’s full support as they fight for a fair pay rise.”

Harrods has yet to comment.