Staff at the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in Manchester are set to begin striking this evening, marking the first ever hospitality sector strike in the North West. The Unite Union confirmed that its members will walk out at 5pm on Tuesday, June 30, with further strike action planned for July 4, 5, 11 and 12.
Dispute Over Union Recognition and Working Conditions
Since March, hotel workers have alleged that their employer has refused to engage in meaningful dialogue about concerns including unreasonable notice of rota changes and impractical uniforms. Attempts to formally recognise Unite as a trade union at the Oxford Road hotel, run by IHG Hotels & Resorts since 2018, have been unsuccessful.
Unite claims that IHG bosses have cancelled meetings aimed at resolving the dispute. One staff member, speaking anonymously, told the Manchester Evening News that not having a union recognition agreement felt like a very big kick in the teeth.
Allegations of Sacking Union Representatives
The union also alleges that two senior staff members who are Unite representatives have been sacked since the campaign began. IHG UK said it does not comment on individual employment situations, and the MEN understands IHG's position is that this is unrelated to the union action.
Unite regional officer Alison Treacher said: "Unite has spent weeks attempting to engage with IHG management in good faith, but it has refused to do the same to us, therefore staff have chosen to strike to make their voices heard. Strikes will have a big impact on what services Kimpton Clocktower can offer, but IHG could easily resolve this by coming back to negotiations and choosing to formally recognise Unite."
Petition and Impact
Unite is running a petition asking IHG UK to recognise the workers' rights to have their grievances heard collectively. The petition, open to anyone, has received over 1,300 signatures since launching earlier this year.
In a statement, an IHG Hotels & Resorts spokesperson said: "Our priority is always the comfort of our colleagues and guests, and we have plans in place to minimise any disruption. IHG seeks to maintain high levels of engagement with all of our colleagues and whilst we do not agree with the action that a small number of them are taking, we respect their individual rights to take part in lawful industrial action. The hotel and The Refuge continue to operate as normal, and guests should contact the hotel directly if they have any specific questions about their stay."
