Hotel union may ban vomit cleaning

Press, 30 November 1987, Page 8

Hotel union may ban vomit cleaning

By

RICHARD CRESSWELL

and NZPA

Hotel patrons and guests who leave vomit and other “unpleasant” things in rooms may have to clean up their own mess if hotel workers decide to take industrial action later this week, a union leader said.

New Zealand’s 22,000 hotel workers will be asked at stop-work meetings between tomorrow and Wednesday to ban some duties indefinitely. These include operating T.A.B. jetbet machines installed in some hotels, refusing to clean up patrons’ “disgusting" messes, and wearing incorrect footwear.

in the T.A.B. and shoe allowances.

mas season. Hotel workers are seeking a 14 per cent wage increase. Hotel action will centre on the failure to address workers’ claims; and officials have been upset by a letter from one company which misrepresents union comments at the talks.

Association’s chief executive, Mr Tom Sheehy, said strike action by hotel workers cost hotels customers, cost workers their pay, and achieved nothing.

Employers offered 7 per cent, tagged to a claim for more flexibility in employing more casual hotel staff. Mr Barker said employers could easily afford the sort of pay rise the union was seeking. Tourism was booming. In the last financial year Lion Breweries made $51.3 million profit. Delegates representing hotel workers rejected their employers’ offers at a Christchurch meeting yesterday and workers will be at a mass meeting in the city today to hear a report back on the award.

He said the association and hotel employers wanted greater flexibility similar to the situation faced by shop employees. Although some hotels in the main centres were doing well, most were finding times tough, particularly in rural and provincial areas.

Employers were also seeking to “casualise the hotel industry” by pushing for the removal of the restriction which prevents casual bar staff working before 4.30 p.m. Its removal would give fulltime workers no protection, and reduce their work opportunities. Employers also want three-hour minimum casual workers to be able to work broken shifts when required. The union is opposing both moves. The New Zealand Hotel

The Hotel and Hospital Workers’ Federation’s national secretary, Rick Barker, said the union wanted to ban duties that related to its award claims.

The Labour Relations Act provided for site agreements but the union seemed dead against such deals and intent on maintaining the national award.

The award talks collapsed in Auckland on Friday after three days negotiation. The union sought a $4O---week pay increase, tangihanga (mourning) leave, a $5 “unpleasant duty” allowance, and Increases

The hotel industry could be plunged into chaos if industrial action is taken, particularly at the lucrative pre-Christ-

Mr Sheehy said there was little chance of talks resuming unless the union changed its position.