Bar staff told to walk out if violence erupts

Press, 31 July 1986, Page 3

Bar staff told to walk out if violence erupts

Bar staff in the South Island will be told by their unions to close their bars if violence erupts. This was one of the decisions of an inaugural conference of about 40 delegates of hotel workers’ unions in the South Island, held in Christchurch this week. The secretary of the Canterbury union, Mr Martin Moodie, said that staff would be told to leave the bar until the violence had abated. The unions would also seek security grilles and alarm systems in all bars. In another measure to combat what the unions say is a growing problem of violence, the conference has called for better lighting and security at hotel staff car-parks, and escorts for female

workers going to their cars. Mr Moodie said that North Island hotel unions had already adopted the policies to combat violence, and an educational campaign would now be started nationally. The conference will ask the Hotel Association to become closely involved in employee assistance programmes run by the Alcohol Liquor Advisory Council because of the high rate of alcoholism and heavy drinking by hotel staff. The conference has expressed concern about the lack of consultation by breweries and licensing trusts over moves to stop patrons from drinking excessively. Mr Moodie said that while the conference supported the concept of

drinker intervention, members felt that it would be they who would be at the forefront of the intervention and would “cop the flak.” Mr Moodie said that concern was also expressed about the changing pattern of entertainment in licensed hotels and the trend to adult entertainment. On-site meetings of staff would be called to discuss whether staff would tolerate working when such entertainment was offered. Sexual harassment of female staff was a continuing problem and was often alcohol-related. The conference will ask employers to offer more support to staff who are the victims of leering and offensive behaviour by patrons.