Net-a-Porter deliveries are set to face delays as 100 workers at the luxury womenswear e-tailer’s southeast London distribution center prepare to walk out for two days starting Wednesday.
Organized by the GMB union, the strike follows allegations that the company failed to deliver on its pledge to pay the London Living Wage of 14.80 pounds (about $20) an hour to its lowest-paid staff.
The union highlighted the contrast between workers’ pay and the cost of Net-a-Porter’s high-end offerings, whose price tags can top 150,000 pounds, or nearly $202,000.
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“Our members were given assurances about the London living wage, so all they are asking for is what was promised to them,” said regional GMB organizer Craig Prickett. “Our members want a fair resolution, and we would welcome the company coming back to the table with an offer we can present to the workforce, one that meets the expectations set by Net‑a‑Porter’s own previous commitments.”
GMB members have also raised concerns about feeling pressure over their participation in the “lawful and visible union” activity, he said.
On Tuesday, LuxExperience—the conglomerate that formed after Mytheresa acquired Yoox Net-a-Porter Group, including Net-a-Porter, for 555 million euros ($645 million) in 2025—reported its second profitable quarter, with net sales of 618.4 million euros ($719 million) for the period ended March 31.
“We are fully on track and will achieve our guided results for the full fiscal year 2026,” LuxExperience CEO Michael Kliger said in an earnings call on Tuesday. “Our success story with our Mytheresa business continues as we outpaced the market in terms of growth and further improved our profitability despite the geopolitical headwinds in March, which, in the meantime, have subsided for our resilient customer base.”
The group also reported improvements at Net-a-Porter and its men’s wear counterpart Mr Porter as a result of a “new strategic focus on customer service, full-price selling and cost discipline,” he said.
“Overall, LuxExperience is the clear digital multibrand leader for luxury enthusiasts globally. And we are perfectly positioned to benefit from the sustained growth of digital luxury and the ongoing consolidation within the sector,” Kliger added.
Responding to the strike, LuxExperience said that it acknowledges and respects its employees’ right to take industrial action.
“Our priority remains that we recognize the vital contribution of our employees and remain open to engaging in constructive dialogue with union representatives as we navigate the next steps in this process, whilst ensuring we protect the long-term sustainability of our business,” a spokesperson said.
Prickett said it isn’t too late to resolve the dispute without disruption if Net-a-Porter is willing to negotiate.
“Industrial action is always a last resort and a cry for help,” he added.
