BHA rejects call for London Living Wage in capital’s hotels

Now is not the time to demand that hotels introduce a London Living Wage, the British Hospitality Association (BHA) has warned.

The BHA was responding to the publication of a document from campaign group London Citizens and trade union Unite which urged the industry to back a London Living Wage of £7.45 per hour - £1.72 higher than the national minimum wage – in the run up to the 2012 Olympics.

But a BHA spokesman said that, given the recession, hefty wage increases were not a realistic possibility for London hotels.

“At a time of recession, when the hospitality industry in London is experiencing severe cost pressures and falling demand, the priority has to be to preserve jobs as far as is possible,” he told Caterersearch.

“Substantial wage increases are just not realistic at this time.”

In the document Rooms for change: Putting London hotels on track for the Olympics, London Citizens also calls for unions to be given unimpeded access to meet with all hotel employees; as well as training and advancement opportunities made available to staff at all levels.

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By Gemma Sharkey