Workers at luxury fashion retailer Net‑a‑Porter are preparing to vote on potential strike action after being told their wages fall short of the London Living Wage, despite what unions say was a previous commitment by the company to adopt the rate.
More than 100 warehouse staff at the company’s fulfilment centre in Charlton, southeast London, will take part in a formal ballot organised by the GMB. The vote will determine whether employees move forward with industrial action in a dispute centred on pay levels and the rising cost of living in the capital.
The dispute comes at a sensitive time for Net‑a‑Porter, which recently completed a redundancy consultation across parts of its operations. Union representatives say workloads have increased for remaining staff after some employees were prevented from leaving, with management citing the critical nature of their roles.
According to the GMB, Net‑a‑Porter had committed in 2021 to paying staff the London Living Wage, a voluntary benchmark calculated annually to reflect living costs in London. The union claims the company has now proposed a lower hourly rate for its lowest-paid warehouse workers. Under the current offer, staff would receive £14.41 per hour, which the GMB says is insufficient for a reasonable standard of living in the capital.
Craig Prickett, regional organiser for the GMB, said employees were increasingly frustrated by rising costs and heavier workloads. “For a luxury fashion brand serving wealthy customers around the world, it is simply unacceptable that the people doing the work are struggling to make ends meet in London,” he said. “Workers are already dealing with rising costs and increasing workloads following the recent restructuring. Instead of recognising their contribution, the company has offered a pay proposal that keeps wages well below what is needed to live in London.”
Prickett added that union members would prefer to resolve the dispute through negotiation rather than industrial action, but warned staff were feeling mounting pressure. “GMB members do not want to take strike action, but they deserve fairness, respect and a wage that reflects the cost of their lives in the capital,” he said.
Net‑a‑Porter operates as a global luxury ecommerce platform, selling designer fashion and accessories to customers worldwide. The Charlton warehouse is a key hub for the company’s logistics operations, handling orders across the UK and international markets. The union’s campaign highlights the contrast between the company’s high-priced products, including handbags costing up to £9,000 and couture dresses above £14,000, and the wages paid to warehouse staff.
The outcome of the strike ballot will determine whether GMB coordinates industrial action or other forms of protest to push the company to revisit its pay proposal. Union officials say they hope the dispute can still be resolved through dialogue before any strikes occur.
“We want the company to recognise the value of its workforce,” Prickett said. “These workers keep the business running, and they deserve a wage that reflects the cost of living in London.”
