Glasgow hotel workers’ victory after three week strike

Matt Dobson

The first hotel workers’ strike in 46 years has resulted in major concessions won by Glasgow Unite Hospitality against Village Group Hotels. Village Group is owned by global equity giant Blackstone. 

Young trade unionists, the majority female, have shown a way forward both in conducting an industrial dispute in precarious hospitality, and also how there can be a rebuilding of trade unionism in the hotel sector. 

In that sense this was a result that can give confidence to all young workers. Young workers themselves led the negotiations with the employer and ACAS.

One major issue that led to the period of organising before the three week strike was the fact that workers under-21 in the Village Hotel in Edinburgh were paid the same as older workers, £12.21 an hour. In contrast, in Glasgow they were only paid £10.42. 

The strike demanded a wage of £12.60 for all age groups and paid breaks. 

Pickets at the Govan hotel were well supported for weeks, and large rallies were attended by a broad spectrum of the workers’ movement in the city. 

Unite Hospitality gave an outline of the deal that ended the strike: “Following 3 weeks of continuous strike action our members at Village Hotel in Govan have won the following:  

• 10% pay rise for the youngest workers backdated to 1st April 2024 – with some workers getting up to £3000
•  In an unprecedented move, Village have agreed to cover all Tax and NI putting more in their back pockets
• A £400 payment for workers over 21 who did not benefit from equal pay uplift 
•  Replacement of zero hour contracts with guaranteed minimum hour contracts

“This is not the end of their battle for full equal pay and the real living wage but it’s an incredible achievement for these strikers, who took on a hotel chain owned by the biggest asset management company in the world and won thousands for the lowest paid workers” 

It was inspiring to hear young strikers speak alongside Jeremy Corbyn on the final day. Some are as young as 18 and are strike leaders who have overcome many odds, including a ruthless management. 

They made many correct political points including that “Your Party” should give a voice to young precarious workers and the trade unions. Solidarity was brought to the picket line from Socialist Party Scotland and Young Socialists.