MANCHESTER, England — Workers at the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel held a series of one-day strikes beginning June 30. Some 20 bar and restaurant workers here, members of the Unite union, are fighting for union recognition.
They’re also fighting to end chronic understaffing, inadequate sick pay and workers getting less than 11 hours between shifts. InterContinental Hotels Group, the hotel’s parent company, has refused to recognize the Unite union. IHG has some 7,000 hotels worldwide, with revenue of more than $5 billion.
“Our strike began after a group of us delivered a collective grievance to present our demands,” Tom Bell, a Unite representative, told the Militant July 12. He was fired after the grievance was submitted, one of two union members targeted by the bosses.
This strike is the first ever by workers at IHG in the U.K. Bell reported several workers from hotels across Manchester have been in touch, keen to learn about their fight.
“We didn’t want this, but the company left us no choice,” striker Callum Ashton said at a speakout on the picket line. “We need basic justice: We want to be recognized; we want staffed shifts; workers who do full-time hours should get full-time contracts; we need equipment and uniforms that allow us to do our jobs properly; taxis home should be provided when finishing a late-night shift; and the unfair dismissal of staff needs to end!”
Other trade unionists have joined the picket in solidarity. Unite members from Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems were there July 5, and from Senior Aerospace July 12.
Bell addressed the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers Manchester South union branch meeting on July 6. The branch donated 300 pounds ($400) to the strikers’ fund and is organizing a delegation to the picket line.
Four further strike days are planned before the end of the month. Help circulate a union petition to support the strike and contribute to the strike fund at: linktr.ee/UnitedKimptonWorkers.