Starwood workers across Australia present 943 pledges

Workers at the Sheraton Mirage on the Gold Coast

“ Our hotel wins lots of awards for the fantastic service we provide our guests. We want our hotel to continue to succeed and we wish to share in that success. That’s why we are supporting the better jobs, better hotels campaign and we are asking Starwood to do the same.”

Pledges signed by the majority of Starwood workers were today presented to the hotel’s bosses in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and the Gold Coast. The workers called on Starwood to sign on for better jobs, better hotels.

“We deserve more respect”

Meanwhile at the Sheraton Mirage on the Gold Coast, workers caught their General Manager Mark Sexton by surprise.

The team handed over armloads of pledges, explaining with each pile what needed to change in their hotel and the hotel industry.

Handing over the pledges Housekeeper Denise Cella said “We’re here to let you know that the majority of staff at the Sheraton Mirage on the Gold Coast support the better jobs, better hotels rescue plan.

“We’d like to hand over these pledge cards signed by the majority of staff here. We are sick of seeing so many people leaving the hotels – we think this rescue package can help turn this around.”

Denise said she was part of the campaign because ”We deserve more respect and to be appreciated.”

Melbourne workers call for industry change

“On behalf of all the workers here at The Westin Melbourne, I would like to present these signed pledge cards for our campaign. As workers here at The Westin, we want our company to work with us to change our industry.

“Our hotel wins lots of awards for the fantastic service we provide our guests. We want our hotel to continue to succeed and we wish to share in that success. That’s why we are supporting the better jobs, better hotels campaign and we are asking Starwood to do the same.”

That’s how Marion Stewart kicked off today’s meeting of hotel workers and the Hotel’s Human Resource Director. Marion and her workmates Tom and Deb raised issues concerning many of the hotel’s workers including safety, staff turnover, equality for part-time workers, respect in the workplace and pay.

The workers asked the hotel to continue to be an industry leader by signing on for better jobs, better hotels.

Sydney hotel workers present their pledges

At Sydney’s Sheraton on the Park Security Officer Bikram Lama had a clear message for Starwood saying:

“Everything is getting expensive but my pay is the same. I believe in this campaign because I think we deserve better conditions.”

A team of the hotel’s workers presented pledge cards on behalf of the majority of Starwood’s Sydney workers from The Sheraton on the Park, The Westin and Four Points.

Sean Hunt, Starwood’s Area Managing Director Asia Pacific Region is based at Sheraton on the Park but he did not meet with workers. The workers told Rachel Abbott, the Human Resources Manager, why they joined the campaign. She promised to take the message and the pledge cards to Sean Hunt.

Perth workers sign up for better jobs, better hotels

In Perth today a team of hotel workers met with Sheraton’s Human Resources Manager Lea Pedelty.

Each worker outlined what they liked about Sheraton. They also talked about the things that needed to change to make the hotel better and why the better jobs, better hotels campaign solutions were the way to do it.

“We want to improve the industry,” said Penny Clarence, Food and Beverage Supervisor.

“We want our hotel to be the best but we need higher wages and our training to be better so that we can keep people at the hotel.

“I’ve worked here for 25 years and I’m really committed to the hotel. I want you to listen and take the message back to the owner that the changes within this campaign are needed urgently.”