Saturday was a busy old day at Harrods – but for all the wrong reasons as far as the luxury department store is concerned.
A protest outside the shop’s entrance brought together disgruntled restaurant staff, complaining that up to 75 percent of the tips they receive in one of London’s best-known landmarks are being kept by its Qatari owner.
As unions and anti-austerity activists raise the prospect of industrial action, Harrods is quoted as saying staff are paid ‘fairly’ and above the UK’s national living wage.
Outside Harrods now with UVWunion. One of the wealthiest stores in the world is withholding 75% of tips. pic.twitter.com/dBDM1PvREm— HotelWorkersUnite (@HWUnite) 7 janvier 2017
A video posted by Ⓜبندر ال شافي (@bandar917) on Jan 7, 2017 at 7:47am PST
BREAKING: These are the scenes from Knightsbridge this afternoon because Harrods won’t pay their staff their tips #Solidarity UVWunion pic.twitter.com/cf9T5rgQeH— Unite the Resistance (@resistunite) January 7, 2017
Roads were blocked in the Knightsbridge area, a smoke bomb was let off and two people were arrested.
Harrods is said to be reviewing its service charge system.
Harrods stop STP pic.twitter.com/Q8JYk4jdlj— Rossi Alx Barbarossa (@rossibarbarossa) January 7, 2017