Harrods to give full service charge to staff
Harrods confirmed today that it will no longer take a share of the service charge paid in its restaurants. The company has admitted to retaining approximately 50% of the charge, although the United Voices of the World (UVW) union, which has campaigned for the entire charge to be given to staff, claimed the figure was closer to 75%. From April, Harrods will reduce the service charge to 10%, but will pass on the entire amount, up to £5000 ($6,157) annually per worker, to staff. The UVW has called on other employers in the sector to follow suit.

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Harrods restaurant workers are celebrating today after bosses confirmed that the company will no longer take a cut of the service charge left by diners.

In a meeting this morning, staff were told that 100% of the service charge will now be passed on to workers.

Bosses have previously admitted to staff that the company was keeping around 50% of the service charge. However the United Voices of the World (UVW) union, which represents the workers, believed the real figure was closer to 75%.

Earlier this month, campaigners and members of UVW protested outside the famous department store to call on the company to pass the entire charge on to staff.

The restaurant workers were told this morning that from April the company will reduce the service charge to 10% but that all of it will now be passed on to them.

The general secretary of UVW Petros Elia said they are delighted with the victory.

"We congratulate the resilience and courage of our members, the Harrods restaurant workers, who have achieved this victory by joining United Voices of the World, getting organised and standing up to their employer's outrageous practices," Elia said.

"The victory is significant on a number of levels. Firstly, it is incredibly important for Harrods restaurant staff who will now receive 100% of the service charge which could equate to up to £5000 more per year per worker. But it also sends out a clear message to the rest of the restaurant and hospitality industry that workers are no longer going to accept anything less than 100% of the tips and trade unions are ready to help them get organised and fight. The success of the campaign at Harrods offers a powerful model to follow for other workers across the industry."