Historic victory as Radisson Blu housekeepers win trade union recognition at two UK hotels

Housekeepers at Radisson Blu Canary Wharf and Radisson Blu Euston Square, all members of the United Voices of the World (UVW) union, have secured statutory trade union recognition after successfully organising their workplaces and building a supermajority of union membership.

Union recognition in UK hotels remains relatively uncommon. Unlike sectors such as transport, manufacturing, utilities and the public sector, hospitality has long been characterised by low pay, excessive workloads, high staff turnover, and some of the lowest levels of trade union membership and collective bargaining coverage in the economy. This victory represents a significant breakthrough for workers seeking to build lasting union power in the sector.

UVW secured recognition without the need for a ballot after demonstrating majority support among workers. The union also successfully argued before the Central Arbitration Committee that recognition should be determined on a hotel-by-hotel basis, rather than across multiple sites, creating an important precedent that will make it easier for workers to organise workplace by workplace in the fragmented, outsourced hospitality industry.

Winning statutory recognition means contractor WGC must now collectively negotiate with UVW over pay, hours and holidays, giving workers a permanent collective voice in workplace decisions and helping protect the gains they have already won.