Latest news with #VillageHotel
Glasgow Times
15-07-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow Village hotel members overwhelmingly back strike
Workers at the Village Hotel in Glasgow were balloted on industrial action after bosses refused to negotiate with union Unite on paid breaks, the real living wage, and pay equality with the Edinburgh venue. It is understood that 100% of workers backed the strike on a turnout of 82%. Workers at Village Glasgow are demanding equal pay at the real living wage of £12.60 per hour, paid breaks, and addressing a disparity between what under-21 workers are paid in Edinburgh compared to Glasgow. READ NEXT: Glasgow residents 'vindicated' as council make this move over drug problem READ NEXT: March in Glasgow this month set to be met with counter protest When the issues were raised with the company it said it had 'no plans' to pay the real living wage or introduce paid breaks, which it said was in line with practices across the hospitality sector. In addition, the company said it had already carried out an internal grievance investigation into the pay disparity with Edinburgh which concluded that the higher rate of pay in the capital was due to the higher cost of living. An email sent to staff pointed to existing employee benefits such as gym and spa memberships, discounted hotel rooms and high street shopping discounts and said raising wages and paying for breaks was not "financially achievable" without it "adversely impacting on our ability to provide these other benefits". The strike is believed to be the first in a major British hotel chain in over 40 years. Bryan Simpson, National Lead for Unite Hospitality said: 'Our members at the Village Hotel in Glasgow have just delivered a resounding and historic vote in favour of strike action, giving them a clear legal mandate to shut down the most profitable parts of the company's flagship site. 'The ball is now with Village Hotels senior management. If they want to avoid the first hotel strike in nearly half a century, they must return to the negotiating table with a meaningful offer - one that includes equal pay, the real living wage, and paid breaks.' Village Hotel Club has been contacted for comment.
Glasgow Times
14-07-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow hotel dispute could lead to first strike in 40 years
A ballot is open at the Village Hotel on the Clydeside in a dispute over pay and conditions. In its most recent accounts VUR Village Hotels Ltd posted a profit after tax of £182million. It is currently in the midst of an £82m refurbishment and is planning further expansion, and announced in May it had expanded its senior management team. READ NEXT: My XL Bully helped me cope after my son's death by drowning in Glasgow READ NEXT: TRNSMT act admits wardrobe malfunction on stage - but gie' it laldy for fans At the same time the company refused to meet with union Unite over demands to pay the real living wage, with a ballot for strike action closing on July 15. Should the ballot succeed, it will be the first strike in a major hotel in more than four decades. Daniel Friel, the Unite representative for the Glasgow hotel said: "Last year we had a pay disparity within the Glasgow branch which disproportionately affected women. 'They increased the rate to hire more staff because they were struggling with recruitment but they didn't change the rate for existing staff, so that meant the existing staff remained on the lower rate and it ended up being the case it was mostly guys on the higher rate and girls on the lower. 'That went on for a long time and it was raised internally with management. 'When I was made aware of it we filed a collective grievance with Unite, so by the time the grievance came along all these employees had joined and it was so straightforward because, basically, they s**t themselves. 'We had a meeting and they basically said 'we're going to fix this completely for you'. After joining Unite the whole thing was fixed in about three weeks, whereas as non-union members it was about three months of being told no constantly. 'We got backpay and some people got over two grand back at 18-years-old. I don't know the exact figures for the hotel but I think it was £15,000 that we got for under-21s across all departments. "After that we got some smaller wins too, we now have a staff taxi policy where they contribute 50% to staff taxis after a certain time, whereas before they would only give you a flat rate of £3." Village Hotel, Glasgow (Image: Supplied) The current dispute centres around pay, paid breaks and working conditions. Workers at Village Glasgow are demanding equal pay at the real living wage of £12.60 per hour, paid breaks, and addressing a disparity between what under-21 workers are paid in Edinburgh compared to Glasgow. When the issues were raised with the company it said it had 'no plans' to pay the real living wage or introduce paid breaks, which it said was in line with practices across the hospitality sector. In addition, the company said it had already carried out an internal grievance investigation into the pay disparity with Edinburgh which concluded that the higher rate of pay in the capital was due to the higher cost of living. An email sent to staff pointed to existing employee benefits such as gym and spa memberships, discounted hotel rooms and high street shopping discounts and said raising wages and paying for breaks was not "financially achievable" without it "adversely impacting on our ability to provide these other benefits". A grievance was also raised over a small number of staff receiving a lower rate of pay in Glasgow compared to colleagues in Edinburgh. The company said this was due to the higher rate of pay in the capital. Mr Friel said: "There was a team of us who all happened to be members who were in Edinburgh doing a shift in the hotel there, because at Christmas the Glasgow and the Edinburgh hotels switch over to cover each others' Christmas party. 'We were in the hotel working with two Edinburgh staff who were just doing the last hour of their shift before they headed off to the party and it turned out they were being paid more than Glasgow. 'Over-21s across Glasgow and Edinburgh were all paid equally at the minimum wage but under-21s in Edinburgh were paid the same as over-21s whereas in Glasgow they were on the lower wage of £10.42. 'We had two grievance procedures about this and in each the company said the justification was the cost of living, which doesn't make any sense because over-21s across both sides are paid the same. So how can you say it's because of the cost of living? "They refused to budge on it, and that's when talk of striking happened. 'We've got about 90% on board with this and we're now at the stage where we're in the ballot process. 'We're being paid poverty wages, with under-21s being paid even less, and we don't get paid breaks. 'They sent out a mass response to the whole Glasgow hotel saying it was not financially achievable to pay us the real living wage when last month they announced the £82m refurbishment. "There are 34 hotels at the moment and they want to open 25 new ones, so they're close to doubling the amount of hotels we have over the next five years while telling Glasgow employees they don't have enough money to pay us the real living wage. "Village had a national hospitality day celebration not too long ago and they said in their communications to staff that they want hospitality to be seen as a career – they don't want it to just be a stepping stone. 'At the same time they're paying the absolute bare minimum they're legally allowed to get away with. How can you have a career that you enjoy and can live off if you're not even being paid the real living wage? It's so disingenuous. 'People are really p**sed off about it, and that's why we are where we are.' Village Hotels have refused to meet with Unite to discuss the issue, saying they see "no benefit" in talks. According to Mr Friel though, that attitude has had a galvanising effect. He said: "That was to be expected, but it's still insulting and disparaging to say 'we see no benefit in talking to you about raising your wage'. 'From the moment we told them we intended to ballot they've been disparaging and insulting, they're p**sing off staff with what they're saying. 'We've had quite a few extra people join who will be participating in a possible strike as a result of how they've been communicated with. 'They've shot themselves in the foot with how they've chosen to go about it. "I've always been a trade unionist, but for everyone else in that hotel the early win we had last year was their introduction to trade unionism, it was so positive and empowering for them. 'Staff are being educated on trade unionism, how it works and how it can be successful for them at a young age where they wouldn't necessarily be exposed to it." A Village Hotel Club spokesperson said: 'We continually review our remuneration policies in line with industry best practices and invest significantly in employee benefits, incentives and welfare to make Village a rewarding place to work. Our pay scales reflect local market dynamics and are aligned with the different roles and skills required at each hotel.'
STV News
03-07-2025
- Business
- STV News
Staff at hotel balloted for strike action over pay and working conditions
Staff at a hotel and gym in Glasgow are to be balloted on strike action over pay and working conditions. Around 90% of the food and beverage workforce and Unite members at the Village Hotel on Pacific Drive will vote on whether to take action after the company said it would not enter into talks on improved pay, contracts, and conditions. The union looked to secure the real living wage of £12.60 per hour for its members, as well as paid breaks and a pay uplift and backpay for a small number of under-21 staff who receive less per hour than Village Hotels employees in Edinburgh. The ballot opened this week and closes on July 15. If successful, it would be the first strike action in a major hotel chain for close to 40 years. Unite members at Village Hotels in Glasgow had requested a direct say in how their pay and conditions are determined but were rebuked in a shocking letter from Village Hotels general counsel, Kelli Turner, who stated to Unite that the company was 'very comfortable with our pay structure and employment terms more generally, and at this stage we have no plans to pay all employees the real living wage or to provide paid breaks. 'We know that we are not alone in this approach, which is one often adopted across the hospitality sector.' Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: 'Senior management at Village Hotels openly boast that they remain determined to exploit workers by refusing to pay the wages and conditions they deserve. 'Village Hotels is promoting in-work poverty and a poor working environment alongside undermining basic employment law in the sole pursuit of profit. Unite will back our members all the way in fighting back against such Victorian standards set by Village Hotels.' Workers at Village in Glasgow have already won a backdated pay rise after it was discovered by Unite reps that there had been a significant wage disparity that disproportionately affected young women, as well as backdated pay for unpaid training over a period of up to two years. Bryan Simpson, national lead for Unite hospitality, said: 'Village Hotel workers deserve the real living wage, they deserve paid breaks and the right to have their union collectively bargaining for improved working conditions. 'The hospitality sector is notorious for its exploitative and precarious practices. The approach by Village management towards its workforce – which is to hide behind a race to the bottom – is scandalous.' Around 90 per cent of the food and beverage workforce are involved in the dispute which follows the refusal of Village Hotels management to negotiate over improved pay, contracts, and conditions. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Record
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Jason Manford takes swipe at hotel chain's 'ridiculous policy' after being forced to share room
Comedian Jason Manford has slammed a popular hotel chain for making him share a room after giving his room away to another guest. Jason Manford has lashed out at a 'ridiculous' hotel policy after he was forced to share a room with a friend as the hotel was overbooked. The 44-year-old comedian was in Bournemouth on Saturday for his A Manford All Season show and was absolutely disgusted by the hotel. Staff at the Village Hotel told Jason the place was overbooked for the night, and that his room had been sold to someone else as he arrived so late in the day. Due to the issue, the comedian was forced to share a room with his friend Steve, the Mirror reports. Jason took to social media to blast the popular hotel chain. Sharing a video on X, formally known as Twitter, he said: "So we got to our hotel tonight in Bournemouth and it's fully booked. We were like, 'Fine, that's good - well done you'. They went, 'No, no, as in like without you'. So me and Steve, obviously [we're] in separate rooms. And then we just discovered that basically if it's fully booked it means that, [you have to share]." "Okay, don't worry, it is what it is, these things happen - all that b******t! I mean we spent all day together! Oh, well, at least we've got a nice view of the car park. Oh well, these things happen and all that. Worse things happen at sea. But Village Hotel, just beware, if you are booking and it's a busy day in a busy city..." Clearly getting wound up by the situation, he continued: "I mean, we're lucky that [our booking] was two rooms because that fella coming behind us, a doctor as well, and no room for him. He just had to walk out, and like and there's no rooms anywhere in Bournemouth tonight. Naughty that, naughty. I've heard of aeroplanes doing it, but I've never known in 25 years of touring, a hotel doing it. That's not on, that is not on." Jason then went on to show the bedroom the pair had been given, adding: "So we've managed to make best of our situation. But that poor doctor, maybe he could sleep on the floor! Anyway, good night." In the caption, he said: "What's your minimum expectation when you book a room at @Villagehotelsup? Staff were lovely but policy stinks!" The next day Jason returned to social media to reveal the hotel management had been in touch and asked him to remove the video. However he refused to take it down, saying he wanted to warn people about the company's practice. Additionally, Jason expressed that it wasn't the staff's fault but the company itself. "What I will say is it's not the staff's fault. And this is the problem with these big companies. That is somebody in an office, making a policy that makes them more money, but they don't have to deal with the s**t," he said to the camera. "I didn't kick off, but I can imagine people would. So the staff then have to deal with upset customers and getting vitriol in heightened emotional situations. So I'm not going to take the video down, because I think it's right that people know that's what your company are doing." "And I'm going to leave it up as a bit of support for the staff, who aren't being paid as much as the person who made the decision is and how much that person is making out of this ridiculous policy. So bear that in mind if these things do happen, same with an aeroplane. We've all been there, we've all been in a moment where the person we're in contact with is the person that's going to get it." He concluded, saying: "But we have to take a step back sometimes, just remember that person is just doing their job and they don't like it either. In fact that's what the manager said to me last night, 'I don't like this either, I hate it'. It takes a video like this and us talking about it for them, hopefully to have a little look at their policies and think maybe this is not in the best interest of our staff and certainly not of the customer."
Daily Mirror
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Jason Manford hits out at hotel's 'ridiculous policy' after having to share room
Comedian Jason Manford hits out at a Bournemouth hotel for selling his room to another guest after he arrived 'late' Jason Manford hit out at a hotel's 'ridiculous policy' after he had to share a room with a friend because it was overbooked. The comedian, 44, was in Bournemouth on Saturday before his A Manford All Seasons show but the staff at the hotel told him the place was overbooked for the night. Staff at the Village Hotel told Jason his room was sold to someone else as he arrived late. Because of the issue, he was forced to share a room with his friend Steve. "So we got to our hotel tonight in Bournemouth and it's fully booked. We were like, 'Fine, that's good - well done you'," he said. "They went, 'No, no, as in like without you'. So me and Steve, obviously [we're] in separate rooms. And then we just discovered that basically if it's fully booked it means that, [you have to share]. "Okay, don't worry, it is what it is, these things happen - all that b******t! I mean we spent all day together! Oh, well, at least we've got a nice view of the car park. Oh well, these things happen and all that. Worse things happen at sea. But Village Hotel, just beware, if you are booking and it's a busy day in a busy city... "I mean, we're lucky that [our booking] was two rooms because that fella coming behind us, a doctor as well, and no room for him. He just had to walk out, and like and there's no rooms anywhere in Bournemouth tonight. Naughty that, naughty. I've heard of aeroplanes doing it, but I've never known in 25 years of touring, a hotel doing it. That's not on, that is not on." He then showed the bedroom he was staying in and added: "So we've managed to make best of our situation. But that poor doctor, maybe he could sleep on the floor! Anyway, good night." In the caption, he said: "What's your minimum expectation when you book a room at @Villagehotelsup? Staff were lovely but policy stinks!" Jason returned to social media the next day to reveal the hotel management had been in touch and asked him to remove the video. He refused to take down the video and said he wanted to warn people about the company's practice. Jason also reminded fans it wasn't the staff's fault, but the company's itself. "What I will say is it's not the staff's fault. And this is the problem with these big companies. That is somebody in an office, making a policy that makes them more money, but they don't have to deal with the s**t," he said to the camera. "I didn't kick off, but I can imagine people would. So the staff then have to deal with upset customers and getting vitriol in heightened emotional situations. So I'm not going to take the video down, because I think it's right that people know that's what your company are doing. "And I'm going to leave it up as a bit of support for the staff, who aren't being paid as much as the person who made the decision is and how much that person is making out of this ridiculous policy. So bear that in mind if these things do happen, same with an aeroplane. We've all been there, we've all been in a moment where the person we're in contact with is the person that's going to get it. "But we have to take a step back sometimes, just remember that person is just doing their job and they don't like it either. In fact that's what the manager said to me last night, 'I don't like this either, I hate it'. It takes a video like this and us talking about it for them, hopefully to have a little look at their policies and think maybe this is not in the best interest of our staff and certainly not of the customer."
