Workers at a landmark Midland hotel are set to strike in a pay row timed for England's World Cup opener tomorrow night. The walkout at Walsall's Village Hotel – a chain which highlights its coverage of live football – is due to start as England play Croatia in the US on the evening of Wednesday, June 17.
The Unite union said strike action was planned for a total of 14 dates this month and next. It involves workers from the hotel's hospitality, gym, events, reception and housekeeping departments.
The union claimed it followed Village Hotel's "failure" to pay the Living Wage, which is £13.45 per hour, and its "refusal" to provide parity of pay for staff of different ages doing the same job. Unite also alleged Village Hotels had failed to recognise it for collective bargaining.
Strike action will be held at the Tempus Drive-based hotel from 5pm until 9.30pm. The England match kicks off at 9pm.
Union demands
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Walsall Village Hotel workers are determined to show low pay and union-busting the red card. They have their union’s unflinching support. Strikes will continue to escalate until Walsall Village Hotel enters talks with Unite and tables improvements on pay that are acceptable to its workers."
Unite said strike action was also scheduled for June 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 26, 27, 28 and 30 and July 2, 4, 7 and 10. Those dates will coincide with other World Cup games, too.
Unite national lead for hospitality, Bryan Simpson, said: "For almost two months, these workers have done everything right. They raised serious concerns collectively, they followed procedure and they gave Village Hotels every opportunity to resolve this dispute. Instead, they were ignored.
"Despite facing some of the most aggressive union-busting tactics we've seen, workers have stood together and delivered a resounding vote for strike action. The message to the company is clear. If you want to avoid disruption during some of your busiest and most profitable weeks of the year, get around the table and negotiate. These workers won’t be ignored any longer."
Company response
Village Hotels said the company always met or exceeded minimum pay levels. It was claimed that fewer than ten employees out of 138 workers in total were due to take part in strike action.
A Village Hotels spokesperson added: "A small minority of our Walsall team voted in favour of industrial action. Our focus remains on engaging directly with our teams and ensuring guests can enjoy all that Village has to offer during the World Cup."
