UVW union official suffers whiplash and fracture after alleged triple assault by Harrods security guards – SKWAWKBOX

Woman injured after push on Harrods workers picket line

A female union official suffered whiplash and a fracture on the picket line after three alleged assaults by security guards working on behalf of the Harrods store just before Christmas.

United Voices of the World (UVW) official Molly de Dios Fisher was taking part in the picket by workers striking over union recognition, working conditions and the company’s pay, benefits and bonus package when she was pushed to the ground on three separate occasions. The third instance – not the one that resulted in the fracture – was captured on video:

 The union says that several security guards attempted to conceal their Security Industry Authority (SIA) badges and numbers after the assault in an attempt to avoid identification and potential legal repercussions:

The assaults took place on 22 December, the second day of the strike action by restaurant, retail and cleaning staff in what is the biggest strike Harrods has ever faced. The UVW, which represents low-paid migrant workers, is fighting for recognition by Harrods.

The second assault saw Dios Fisher pushed to the ground with such force that she fell and hit her head on the pavement causing a fractured finger and whiplash.

Dios Fisher, who said she was ‘extremely shaken and upset’ by the events, said:

There were a number of security guards who were being quite unpleasant, rude and sarcastic.  I was pushed so forcefully to the ground, several times. The second time my neck went back sharply. I have whiplash and a fractured finger as a result. Luckily, no one else was hurt.

UVW head Petros Elia added:

There was no justification whatsoever that the security officers who were about twice the size of Molly should have used such force against her.

The Harrods workers are demanding better staffing levels, an end to mandatory bank holiday work, daily meal allowances for restaurant and kitchen workers and fair distribution of ‘cover charges’ amongst workers.

Harrods brushed aside the issue of recognition for the UVW, stating that it has ‘ongoing, open communication directly with our colleagues and our recognised unions on pay and benefits’, that it is ‘committed’ to working with ‘colleagues’ to ‘address concerns’ and that it wants to ‘continue our constructive relationship with our recognised unions on pay and benefits’.

A spokeswoman for the government-run SIA said that its ‘licensed security operatives play a vital role in keeping people safe’  and are ‘trained in conflict management’. The organisation said it would investigate any allegations of misconduct.

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