A High End Strike

by New Worker correspondent

The present strike wave has reached as far as Knightsbridge in the west end of London where over 50 uniformed security guards and CCTV operators at Harrods’ will take part on a strike in protest against a seven per cent pay offer (half the present real rate of inflation of 14.2 per cent). The first strike  started on Friday and continued until Sunday 27th November. If there is no settlement further walk-outs will take place throughout the festive season. 
    Harrods is one of Britain’s finest state-owned shops, but the state in question is Qatar. Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham said “Harrods and its owners, the Qatar Investment Authority, 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”.
    A beneficiary of the government’s Covid furlough scheme to the tune of £6 million, Harrod’s recently doubled the pay of its managing director to £2.3 million and raked in profits of £51 million.
    Regional officer Balvinder Bir added that: “I’m sure that Harrods’ high-end customers and store owners will not be pleased that security and CCTV operations during the Christmas period will be compromised. This is entirely the fault of Harrods, which is swimming in cash but offering a pay cut dressed up as a rise. The company needs to table an offer our members can accept.” They also have some high-end shop-lifters.
    The New Worker does not condone what the anarchists call “proletarian shopping”, but if anyone feels like trying it on one of the above strike days, they should try to get a pocket-sized box of crystalised fruits for New Worker staff...