UNITE workers in Glasgow will launch the first strike at a major hotel chain in a generation this weekend, amid a long-running dispute over conditions and equal pay.

The strike, which is the first such action since 1979 when chambermaids walked out of the Grosvenor House Hotel in London, centres on calls for wages of at least the Real Living Wage rate of £12.60 as well as paid breaks and equal pay.

It will begin at 6pm on Saturday August 2 with an inaugural picket kicking-off the following day at 2pm.

Unite convener at Village Hotels Daniel Friel said: “Our members at the Village Hotel in Glasgow have organised following the intransigence of Village Hotels in refusing to redress a discriminatory pay disparity which disproportionately disadvantages women under 21; as well as the company’s refusal to pay our members above the absolute bare minimum they are legally allowed to get away with.

“This will be the first strike at a major hotel chain since 1979, and is entirely down to the unscrupulous pay practices within Village Hotels and our members’ collective consciousness and drive to formally challenge this.”

He slammed the company’s statement through legal council that it sees “no benefit” in discussing equal pay or the Real Living Wage despite embarking on plans for a 25 hotel expansion and an £82m refurbishment of its existing sites.

Mr Friel continued: “These are remarkable admissions from a company which purports to be community-led and at the forefront of its employees’ wellbeing.

“Equal pay for equal work is an inalienable right and fundamental principle.”

Unite Hospitality national chairman Nick Troy added: “Our members at Village Hotels are on the front line of a growing movement to reshape Britain’s economy in favour of working people.

“Unite Hospitality is proud to stand with our members in their fight for better pay, better conditions, and ultimately a better life.

“We would also like to extend our solidarity to our friends in the United Voices of the World who have recently voted to take strike at Radisson Blue.

“No pint is poured; no room is cleaned; no hotel, pub, restaurant, or venue operates without the explicit permission of hospitality workers. From Village to Radisson, change is afoot.”

Lindsay Southward, Group Director of Operations & People, Village Hotels, said: “Our hotel will open as usual for guests and members to enjoy our full range of facilities during the industrial action.

“We are proud of the investment we make in our employees, which helps drive our employee engagement score and retention rate of 83 per cent and 76 per cent respectively - both significantly higher than industry averages.

“We continually review our remuneration policies and align with industry best practice, and offer a competitive range of employee benefits.”