Union warns against hotel spies

Press, 26 June 1989, Page 3

Union warns against hotel spies

PA Wellington The Hotel Workers’ Union has warned its members to beware of strange customers drinking in their bars after three workers were sacked because of a private security firm's report on them.

Porirua Trust hired Morley Security Company a private investigating firm, to carry out surveillance of all Porirua Tavern staff, including management, and report back discrepancies or anything unusual, according to the union. The firm investigated staff for two weeks and in a report to the trust accused three workers of taking either drinks or money, said the union.

The workers denied they had taken any money and at personal grievance hearings the trust did not produce evidence other than excerpts of the firm’s report to prove the theft allegations.

Two of the workers were eventually reinstated and one case is still pending.

The union claimed the security people involved admitted drinking while in the hotel

When they thought they saw staff doing something wrong they would store the information in their heads for 15 to 20 minutes before going to the toilets or outside to record the information in notebooks. The union claimed the facts were not questioned by the employer and its Official Information Act request for a copy of the report was turned down by the trust. The union is now seeking legal advice on the refusal. “If you are a member, beware of any new and strange customers drinking in your bar, and be suspicious of them until you find out who they are,” the union said. "Employers should know the union will not be accepting as normal the hiring of outside staff to observe our members, nor the consequences that may arise from such a procedure.” A trust spokesman, Mr Lindsay Campbell, said he would not comment on the case while there was still one personal grievance outstanding. Nor would he comment on whether similar action would be taken at other trust hotels.