'Contempt and disdain': Leeds hotel staff set to strike over Christmas for better pay and conditions

Housekeeping staff who are members of Unite at the Village Leeds North and Village Leeds South hotels will take strike action during the busy festive period, the union has announced.

The union said guests can expect unmade beds and no cleaning services between Boxing Day (26 December) and 28 December, one of the busiest times of the year for the hotels.

Strikes at the two hotels in Far Headingley and Morley come as Village Hotel staff in Glasgow are already engaging in strike action over poor pay and working conditions. In Leeds, members will strike for equal pay, a real living wage and union recognition.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Unite’s members at Village Hotels in Leeds are fighting for decency, fairness and equality in the workplace.

“The fact is that Village Hotels is refusing to pay its workers the real living wage. This is an incredibly wealthy business refusing to pay low-paid workers what they deserve. It is shameful and unacceptable.

“Unite will fully support the Village Hotels workers in their brave fight for better jobs, pay and conditions."

According to the union, VUR Village Hotels Ltd, a subsidiary of American private equity firm Blackstone, posted a profit after tax of £182 million in its most recent accounts.

Unite Hospitality national lead Bryan Simpson said the hotel franchise “continues to treat its hard-working staff with contempt and disdain”.

He said: “Despite multiple formal requests, senior management simply refuses to address the fundamental issues of poor pay and conditions even when the company is raking it in.

“These workers have been left with no option but to take strike action during the most lucrative weekend of the year for the company because it appears to be the only way Village Hotels will listen to their legitimate concerns."

Village Hotel declined to comment when approached for a response.