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STV News
01-08-2025
- Business
- STV News
Hotel staff set for 'historic' strike action over pay dispute
Hotel staff in Glasgow are set to walk out in 'historic' strike action over pay and working conditions. Workers at Glasgow's Village Hotel returned an overwhelming mandate for industrial action in July, with 100% of Unite and Union members voting in favour of strike action on an 81% turnout. Unite said the dispute focuses on issues including low pay, equal pay, and work conditions, with most of the workers paid the National Minimum Wage (£12.21) rather than the real living wage (£12.60). Workers are also fighting for equal pay for younger workers, who are paid £10. The union has also claimed that the hotel is failing to pay workers for breaks. Staff will begin their 'landmark' industrial action on Saturday, August 2. 'Our members at Village Hotels are taking this landmark industrial action because they are sick and tired of unpaid breaks and poverty pay which discriminates based on age,' Bryan Simpson, national lead for Unite's hospitality sector, said. 'The owners of Village Hotels have more than enough money to pay these workers what they deserve. If they want to stop the first strike at a major hotel in over 45 years, they should get round the table and negotiate with Unite and its members.' Unite general secretary Sharon Graham added: 'Unite will have the back of our Village Glasgow hotel workers as they begin historic strike action. At the heart of this dispute is a fight over decent pay and working conditions. 'This is a wealthy company which is short-changing its hardworking staff. Unite will support these workers 100% every step in their fight.' Workers at Village Glasgow previously won a backdated pay rise after Unite reps discovered a significant wage disparity that disproportionately affected young women. They also received backdated pay for unpaid training over a period of up to two years. There will be a public demonstration in support of the strike at 3pm on Sunday, August 3. Village Hotels Glasgow has been contacted for comment. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Glasgow Times
01-08-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow Village Hotel staff set to take strike action
A number of staff members at Village Hotel will take action on August 2, as they claim that they are not being paid real living wage and are not being paid for breaks. Workers also say they want equal pay as some younger members of the team are only being paid £10. (Image: Image of Village Hotel) Unite members returned with an overwhelming mandate for industrial action on July 15 as 100% voted yes to strike action on an 81% turnout. Unite believes that the industrial action will be the first strike at a major hotel since the chambermaids industrial action at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London in 1979. There will be a public demonstration in support of the strike at 3pm on Sunday, August 2. READ NEXT: Everything you need to know about Spider-man 4 filming in Glasgow Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: 'Unite will have the back of our Village Glasgow hotel workers as they begin historic strike action. "At the heart of this dispute is a fight over decent pay and working conditions. This is a wealthy company which is short-changing its hardworking staff. Unite will support these workers 100% every step in their fight." Bryan Simpson, national lead for Unite's hospitality sector, added: 'Our members at Village Hotels are taking this landmark industrial action because they are sick and tired of unpaid breaks and poverty pay which discriminates based on age. 'The owners of Village Hotels have more than enough money to pay these workers what they deserve. If they want to stop the first strike at a major hotel in over 45 years, they should get round the table and negotiate with Unite and its members." (Image: Image of Village Hotel) READ NEXT: Man due in court after £2k worth of alcohol 'stolen' from Glasgow store However, Lindsay Southward, group director of operations and people at Village Hotels, said that the hotel continually review their remuneration policies and align with industry best practice, as well as offer a competitive range of employee benefits. Lindsay added: 'Our hotel will open as usual for guests and members to enjoy our full range of facilities during the industrial action. "We are proud of the investment we make in our employees, which helps drive our employee engagement score and retention rate of 83% and 76% respectively - both significantly higher than industry averages."
Glasgow Times
15-07-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow Village hotel members overwhelmingly back strike
Workers at the Village Hotel in Glasgow were balloted on industrial action after bosses refused to negotiate with union Unite on paid breaks, the real living wage, and pay equality with the Edinburgh venue. It is understood that 100% of workers backed the strike on a turnout of 82%. Workers at Village Glasgow are demanding equal pay at the real living wage of £12.60 per hour, paid breaks, and addressing a disparity between what under-21 workers are paid in Edinburgh compared to Glasgow. READ NEXT: Glasgow residents 'vindicated' as council make this move over drug problem READ NEXT: March in Glasgow this month set to be met with counter protest When the issues were raised with the company it said it had 'no plans' to pay the real living wage or introduce paid breaks, which it said was in line with practices across the hospitality sector. In addition, the company said it had already carried out an internal grievance investigation into the pay disparity with Edinburgh which concluded that the higher rate of pay in the capital was due to the higher cost of living. An email sent to staff pointed to existing employee benefits such as gym and spa memberships, discounted hotel rooms and high street shopping discounts and said raising wages and paying for breaks was not "financially achievable" without it "adversely impacting on our ability to provide these other benefits". The strike is believed to be the first in a major British hotel chain in over 40 years. Bryan Simpson, National Lead for Unite Hospitality said: 'Our members at the Village Hotel in Glasgow have just delivered a resounding and historic vote in favour of strike action, giving them a clear legal mandate to shut down the most profitable parts of the company's flagship site. 'The ball is now with Village Hotels senior management. If they want to avoid the first hotel strike in nearly half a century, they must return to the negotiating table with a meaningful offer - one that includes equal pay, the real living wage, and paid breaks.' Village Hotel Club has been contacted for comment.
The Herald Scotland
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Glasgow Village hotel members overwhelmingly back strike
The Herald understands that 100% of workers backed the strike on a turnout of 82%. Workers at Village Glasgow are demanding equal pay at the real living wage of £12.60 per hour, paid breaks, and addressing a disparity between what under-21 workers are paid in Edinburgh compared to Glasgow. Read More: When the issues were raised with the company it said it had 'no plans' to pay the real living wage or introduce paid breaks, which it said was in line with practices across the hospitality sector. In addition, the company said it had already carried out an internal grievance investigation into the pay disparity with Edinburgh which concluded that the higher rate of pay in the capital was due to the higher cost of living. An email sent to staff pointed to existing employee benefits such as gym and spa memberships, discounted hotel rooms and high street shopping discounts and said raising wages and paying for breaks was not "financially achievable" without it "adversely impacting on our ability to provide these other benefits". The strike is believed to be the first in a major British hotel chain in over 40 years. Bryan Simpson, National Lead for Unite Hospitality said: 'Our members at the Village Hotel in Glasgow have just delivered a resounding and historic vote in favour of strike action, giving them a clear legal mandate to shut down the most profitable parts of the company's flagship site. 'The ball is now with Village Hotels senior management. If they want to avoid the first hotel strike in nearly half a century, they must return to the negotiating table with a meaningful offer - one that includes equal pay, the real living wage, and paid breaks.' Village Hotel Club has been contacted for comment.
Glasgow Times
01-07-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow hotel staff could strike over pay and conditions
Unite members at the four-star Village on Pacific Drive will vote on whether to take action after the company said it would not enter into talks on pay, contracts and conditions. Should the ballot be successful, it's believed it would be the first strike action in a major hotel chain for close to 50 years. The union had sought talks on securing the real living wage of £12.60 per hour for its members, as well as paid breaks. In addition, Unite sought a pay uplift and backpay for a small number of under-21 staff who receive less per hour than Village Hotels employees in Edinburgh. READ NEXT: Council not reimbursed for demolition of India buildings for this reason READ NEXT: This check will happen before Clyde Tunnel toll charge could be rolled out In response it's understood Village Hotels said it had 'no plans' to pay the real living wage or introduce paid breaks, which it said was in line with practices across the hospitality sector. In addition, the company said it had already carried out an internal grievance investigation into the pay disparity with Edinburgh which concluded that the higher rate of pay in the capital was due to the higher cost of living. It's understood the company told reps it saw "no benefit" in meeting for talks. In an email sent to staff, seen by The Herald, Village confirmed it would not be raising rates of pay and pointed to existing employee benefits such as gym and spa memberships, discounted hotel rooms and high street shopping discounts. Senior operations director for Scotland and the North Jamie Stevens said: "We continue to review the benefits that we provide to you, but at this stage, making wholesale changes to pay rates across the business, and paying for time taken on breaks, isn't financially achievable for the company without it adversely impacting on our ability to provide these other benefits." Village Hotels last month announced the expansion of its senior leadership team as part of an £82m refurbishment and investment programme. In its letter to staff Village Hotels said: "Whilst we respect the right of our employees to support industrial action, we hope you recognise the effort we put into our employee proposition, and that we all continue to operate without disruption for our guests and members. "We hope you share our goals in protecting the value our business offers to you as members of our team, and to all of those individuals who experience the hospitality and quality of service which you provide at Glasgow." Bryan Simpson, Unite the Union's Lead for Hospitality said: "For one of Britain's best known hotel chains to point blank refuse to negotiate with their workers over the real living wage, equal pay and paid breaks is bad enough. But to use as an excuse the fact that the hospitality sector is the lowest paid and most exploitative in the British economy is a scandal that all Village customers should be aware of. "All our members at Village in Glasgow are asking for is a say in their own pay and conditions which are far too low. The attitude of senior management at Village has forced those members to now consider the first strike action at a major hotel chain since 1979." Village Hotels has been approached for comment.
