latest news

Gold Coast hotel attempts to hide crisis by gagging workers

andrew — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:41:42 +1000

One of Australia’s largest hotel operators has threatened to discipline - and potentially dismiss - any staff member who talks to the media about their workplace. The Starwood-operated Gold Coast Sheraton Mirage’s media gag extends to discussions with lawyers, union representatives and even government officials. The LHMU believes even communications between workers and the Workplace Ombudsman could be affected.

“This attempt to gag workers occurs at a time when luxury hotel workers feel compelled to talk about the devastating impacts of the labour shortages on their industry,” says Louise Tarrant, National Secretary of the LHMU, the hotel workers’ union.

“Staff in Starwood’s Queensland Sheraton Mirage hotel have told us the Hotel is demanding they sign a ‘global media policy’ which specifi cally states that inquiries from government officials and unions relating to industrial matters must be referred to the HR Manager.

Starwood - profits high, but what about wages?

andrew — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:33:41 +1000

Supporting the campaign Hundreds of Starwood workers around the country got behind the better jobs, better hotels campaign today by joining in competitions to guess Starwood’s profit.

Starwood’s Australian profit hits $31 million In Australia Starwood’s gross profit was $31,131,196 ($AUS) for the year ending December 2007.

The international operating income for the entire Starwood chain was $978 million ($AUS) for the same period.

“I’m pleased Starwood is really profitable. As Starwood workers we work hard to make that profit possible,” says Tom Skorpolas, Guest Service Agent at Hotel Westin Melbourne.

“I just wish our work was recognised by the company and that we were paid more fairly.”

Today’s activity shows Starwood workers around the country want things to improve in their hotels and in the industry.

Is Starwood listening yet?

Starwood workers across Australia present 943 pledges

andrew — Tue, 13 May 2008 14:10:59 +1000

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.”

Today's SMH report features Sydney hotel worker

andrew — Thu, 01 May 2008 11:44:02 +1000

Low-paid squeezed between home and the faraway city

IT'S sometimes as late as 10pm by the time Ana Zueieta slips off the gloves and finishes her shift as a cleaner at an inner-city hotel, but her working day is far from over.

Her workplace is a 1½-hour train trip from home, a commute that eats 15 hours out of her week and $45 from her $490 weekly pay packet.

"It is a dream for me to live close to work but I live at Quakers Hill because the house is cheap and I can't afford to live in the city," she said yesterday.

It is people like Mrs Zueieta who stand to benefit most from the 700 low-cost housing units to be built in Ultimo, a project announced yesterday by the State Government and the City of Sydney.

While some of the proposed flats will be reserved for public housing tenants and welfare recipients, others will be allotted to important city workers such as nurses, teachers and cleaners.

Better jobs better hotels campaign launch!

andrew — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:57:40 +1100

News coverage of the better jobs better hotels launch

andrew — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:31:38 +1100

This morning, the better jobs better hotels campaign was launched in Sydney. Here is some of the great media coverage it has recieved so far:

"A trip to a luxury hotel can be an escape from the mundane tasks of life, but someone has to maintain the swanky lighting, plush decor and over-stuffed pillows."

Read Hotel workers suffering poor conditions, wages: union at ABC Online:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/03/11/2186211.htm

Hotel workers’ union launches rescue package for luxury hotels

andrew — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 02:32:48 +1100

Luxury hotels’ marble veneer hides toxic formula: Australia’s worst injury rates for women, highest staff turnover of any industry, inability to attract or retain workers, spiralling workloads, bullying and more low paying jobs than any industry.

Research by the LHMU, the hotel workers’ union, reveals a crisis in luxury hotels with devastating staff turnover levels, record injury rates, dangerous workloads, bullying by management and Australia’s biggest number of low paid workers. These factors threaten the growth and reputation of Australian tourism.

Download the full media release