About the campaign

Luxury hotels are enjoying both record room rates and an unprecedented occupancy.

At the same time they struggle to attract and keep workers – suffering the highest turnover rates of any sector in the Australian economy together with chronic skill and labour shortages.

With the highest proportion of low wage workers – almost two-thirds earn less than $25,000 per year – and with the highest rate of injury of women workers in the country, and overall injury rates second only to construction, it’s little wonder.

To fulfil the potential for the sector to become a stable and prominent part of the Australian economy, there is a desperate need for all stake holders to work together to create better jobs, better hotels.

What hotel workers say:

I have seen intimidation, verbal abuse, discrimination against people from non-English speaking backgrounds and bullying. It is a stressful and hostile environment for workers.

Ana, luxury hotel worker, Sydney, NSW

I’ve thought about going back into the industry but then I think ‘I can’t do it’. It’s too hard.

Kristie, former luxury hotel worker, Perth, WA

Staff turnover and the casual workforce are a problem. I regularly run shifts short of staff. If I’m short-staffed in the morning, it flows through to the afternoon shift, and then on to the end of the day. The work must be done properly. We spend the day trying to catch up, chasing our tail.

Chris, luxury hotel restaurant supervisor, Brisbane, Qld

In summer temperatures reach 50 degrees but we’re still working.. Eight people normally work in my department but at the moment there are only three. I don’t know how they are coping... People say the hotel is five star, but I tell you what, I think it’s really disgusting. It shouldn’t be like this in 2008.

Laila, injured luxury hotel worker, Sydney, NSW

About the LHMU

The LHMU is one of Australia’s largest unions with members in a wide range of occupations including hospitality, cleaning, security, health, aged care, children’s services and manufacturing. Many of these occupations are undervalued and low paid. The union acts on the values of fairness, compassion and equity, believing in the dignity of workers, their right to fair and just treatment and their right to organise and take action.