Harrods security guards agree to five days of strike actions

Harrods security guards have announced a five-day strike action starting later this month in a dispute over pay.

Security guards and CCTV operators at the department store, who are part of Unite the Union, voted 97% in favour of a strike action last month, after stating that they are being underpaid.

The strikes will take place on 22, 26 and 29 February and then on 4, 7 March. 

Unite the Union said staff are being required to “undertake unpaid work”, as before each shift the workers have to attend a separate location 15 minutes before they start work and stay behind after their shift to collect and drop off rotas, keys and DNA spray.

The union also said guards are made to attend an unpaid “training day” once every eight weeks, which forms part of the dispute.

Unite regional officer Balvinder Bir said: “Our members are taking strike action as a last resort directly as a result of the management of Harrods refusing to return to the negotiating table and make an improved offer.

 “The strike action will inevitably cause disruption to customers at the prestigious store but I hope those affected understand that our members have given the store every opportunity to avoid walkouts.”

He added:  “Even at this late stage strike action could still be avoided if management make an improved pay offer and end the injustice of forcing workers to work unpaid.”

A spokesperson for Harrods told Retail Sector: “Despite almost 12 months of pay talks, which the business has conducted with Unite and its representatives in an open and collaborative manner, Harrods is extremely disappointed and saddened that Unite members within the Harrods Uniformed Security team have voted to strike.

“To reiterate, whilst we had hoped to resolve this matter without strike action, the continued safety and security of our employees and customers is now our priority. Harrods is confident that we will be able to continue to run our operations without disruption to our staff or customers, and will trade as normal during strike action.”

It added: “While Harrods respects the parameters of the industrial action, extra measures are being put in place throughout strike action to ensure the safety and security of the store. This includes deploying existing trained security experts within our teams, as well as upskilling other internal teams to support. Harrods customers will not be impacted and the high levels of security within Harrods will continue to be upheld at all times.”