30 June 2010

for immediate release

Rendezvous Hotel lockout ended
 
Housekeeping staff at the Rendezvous Hotel in Auckland are back at work today, having this morning ratified an agreement won after 13 days locked out by their employer without pay.
 
Service and Food Workers Union Nga Ringa Tota Northern Regional Secretary Jill Ovens says members won a pay increase of up to 2% for a one-year term, and kept their sick leave, after an 11-hour mediation yesterday.
 
The Union says the Hotel had wanted to cut back on sick leave, which was a big issue for the members as they have to clean 18 rooms a shift - well above the industry norm.
 
"Housekeepers are under so much pressure, they often go without rest breaks and work past knock-off time, so they're getting run down," Jill Ovens says.
 
Rendezvous Hotel workers get seven days sick leave in New Zealand, compared with hotel workers in Australia who get a minimum of 10 days sick leave. Rendezvous Hotels operate in all major Australian cities.
 
The Union says the 13-day lockout has been very harsh on members whose families are on low incomes and depend on the money the housekeepers bring in.
 
"They are struggling to make ends meet, even though the money we have raised from other unions and the community, and the money from our own strike fund has meant our members have been able to put food on the table and pay some of their bills," Jill Ovens says.
 
"But the reality is, today's pay packet will be empty after 13 days of lockout."
 
Jill Ovens says members on work permits suffered exceptional hardship as they were not entitled to any assistance from Work and Income.
 
ENDS
                           
For comment contact Jill Ovens, Northern Region Secretary and Tourism, Hospitality National Sector Secretary, SFWU 027 446 4966