UNITE accused Village Hotels of illegal strike-breaking by using agency workers during industrial action by its hospitality staff today.

Workers at the Glasgow-based hotel have been going on strike since November 28 over a jobs, pay and conditions dispute.

The union said that it has lodged a legal complaint concerning “the unlawful use of agency labour during industrial action by workers.”

A spokesman said that it had received job advert information “which indicates that employment agency — Mint People — provided temporary workers to directly replace striking workers,” adding: “This is clearly against the law.”

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The revelations that Village Hotels has sought to cover roles performed by striking workers through the illegal use of agency must be urgently investigated by all relevant government agencies.

“Village Hotels is an incredibly wealthy business, but it is currently behaving like a rogue employer.

“Unite continues to fully support the Village Hotels workers in Glasgow in their ongoing battle for fairness and decency in the workplace.”

The union has requested that the Department of Business and Trade (DBT) urgently investigates and takes enforcement action as appropriate and has also written to the managing director of Mint People Agency to put forward its concerns.

Unite regional co-ordinating officer Alison Maclean said: “Village Hotels has shown contempt for its workforce by ignoring reasonable calls from workers for equal pay and the real living wage, and they have now crossed a legal line by attempting to undermine staff during lawful industrial action.”

Mint People managing director Reina George said that a “thorough internal investigation” found “no evidence of any breach of our legal responsibilities.”

Village Hotels and DBT have been contacted for comment.