Burberry workers strike over London living wage

By

Cajsa Lykke Carlson

Published
Feb 9, 2015

British heritage fashion brand Burberry was the subject of a strike on February 6 and 7, as cleaners in the brand's Regent Street store protested against the company not paying them the current London living wage of £9.15.

The strike was organized by the cleaners' union, The Independent Workers of Great Britain. The cleaners say they are "forced to work extra hours without compensation when the staffing levels fall short due to illness, and that in a time of financial stress, they are instructed to pay for their uniform out of their own pocket rather than it being provided by the contractor, ISS," the union said.

The London living wage is not legally enforced, but rather a guideline to what wage is needed to afford the capital's high rent and living costs.

Burberry told trade magazine Drapers it pays the London Living Wage "for all its staff whether directly or indirectly employed by the company. We make all the annual increases to salaries promptly and well within the required timeframe as stipulated by the Living Wage Foundation."

Rhys Moore, director of the Living Wage Foundation, confirmed Burberry will implement the pay increase in April. "By implementing the new Living Wage Rate in April, after the announcement in November, Burberry has acted properly and in full accordance with the LWF guidance," he said.

This is the latest in a series of fashion strikes in the UK - last month Barbour, another heritage label, faced striking workers at its Gateshead warehouse.

£1 = $1.52