London’s most famous department store could have its business disrupted at the height of tourism season, if workers at Harrods decide to strike this month.


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The trade union Unite will ballot 275 staffers if the Knightsbridge retail giant refuses to improve holiday entitlements and offer a 3.5 percent pay raise. Balloting ends 18 August, and if union members vote for the strike, it would commence the following week.

The workers at the centre of the controversy are mostly warehouse crew, engineers, drivers and maintenance staff, who say they aren’t afforded the same benefits as other employees. In total, Harrods employs about 3,000 workers for its main site and several hundred others at an Osterley warehouse.

A Harrods spokesperson told The Times that a strike, if it happens, won’t be able to put the store out-of-order.

– Jill Hilbrenner