Behind the luxury of Manchester’s Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, workers are fighting a ruthless global giant that puts profit before basic dignity and safety.
By Viola Montoya
These low-paid precarious workers have launched strike action, after negotiations between Unite and IHG (owners of Kimpton) collapsed. This is more than just a local action – it is a dispute of historic significance, being the first ever official hospitality strike in the North West.
On 28 May, the workers voted overwhelmingly for industrial action after weeks of fruitless talks, where IHG refused to recognise Unite. As such, the strike has centred on demands for formal recognition. After all, without this, workers are left isolated, forced to beg management individually rather than bargaining collectively through representatives they have elected themselves.
Demands
But the issues go much wider than recognition alone. The workers are striking to reinstate their reps and end union busting and harrassment from the employer. When workers submitted a collective grievance on 3 March, IHG retaliated with some of the most vicious union-busting Unite has seen in years. Two elected reps were sacked, and others face ongoing intimidation. This is textbook union busting from the bosses: punish the organisers to scare the rest of the workforce into silence.
One of the most glaring issues is the demand for fully paid taxis for travel to and from night shifts. This is a basic safety measure, not a luxury. Staff – especially women and non-binary members – have faced attacks travelling home through Manchester after late finishes, when public transport is non-existent. No worker should have to gamble their safety simply because a multi-billion pound corporation refuses to cover the cost of getting them home safely.
As is the case with so many hospitality workplaces, management also runs the hotel on a skeleton crew, cutting or rearranging hours at will to maximise profits at the expense of workers’ conditions. To combat this, the strikers are demanding full sick pay cover, proper contacts for full-time staff, rotas confirmed two weeks in advance, adequately staffed shifts and a fully-equipped work environment.
Solidarity!
The struggle is far from isolated. Workers at AQA, themselves striking over low pay, have repeatedly joined the picket line in solidarity, demonstrating how one determined fight can inspire others across workplaces and industries.
Now the solidarity and support for the strike needs to be used to maximise pressure on IHG. A part of the recent successes of the Birmingham bin workers’ strike came down to the ‘political leverage’ campaign used against the government, commissioners and Birmingham City Council. A similar tactic could be used to put pressure on Labour’s Mayoral Candidate Bev Craig to speak in support of the workers. If Bev wants an ‘inclusive’ Manchester with her as Mayor, why won’t she call out IHG and other companies carrying out union busting?
Socialist Alternative stands shoulder to shoulder with the striking Kimpton Clocktower workers. IHG must immediately recognise Unite, end the victimisation of union representatives, reinstate the dismissed workers, and meet every demand!
