HotelWorkers.org.uk

The Central London Hotel Workers branch of Unite the Union is getting more and more complaints of work-related health problems from its room attendant members at London Hotels

THE HEALTH PROBLEMS OF ROOM ATTENDANTS

It is well known among Hotel Workers that the toughest job in a Hotel is the room attendants job

The near 100% women room workers suffer as Hotels demand....
- more rooms cleaned in the same time
- more jobs in each room to do in the "Facilities Race" to attract custom
- wage freezes or even wage reductions

Over 50 activists from hotels and bars and restaurants came to the meeting at London's Swedenborg Hall on 11th July.

Workers from 23 countries took part. Observers came from the Danish Hotel Workers Union and the IUF [International Union of Food Workers] based in Geneva.

Letters are being sent out this week thanking members and summing up the benefits of the meeting.....

1..new leaders were identified

2..the Summer 09 strategy was firmed up and specific committments were made by activists to...
support the "Fair Tips" stage 2 campaign

The venue has been confirmed. The doors will be open at 9.20 am when we will be serving tea and coffee and juice.
The Swedenborg Society Meeting Rooms,
20-21, Bloomsbury Way,
London WC1.

This building is 300 yds from Transport House and opposite Bloomsbury Square. The entrance to the meeting rooms are at the side of the building in Barter Street. There will be signage on the street.

The conference aims to set out a plan to change the culture of low pay, poor conditions,bullying and harassment in the industry.

Trade union representation has ended on the "Visit London" tourist body. The London Mayor has not said why he does not want trade union representation on London's very own tourist authority.

Before he was elected however he said that he thought London's hotel workers should be paid the London Living Wage (LLW). After his election he was interviewed by the "Caterer and Hotelkeeper" magazine and asked about this election promise. He denied he had made this promise.
The magazine then showed him a video of himself making this promise.

Free coach places are available for branch members to attend the Rally.
The coach leaves from "Woodberry" (Green Lanes) at 8.15am and from Euston Station at 8.45 am. Please be 15 minutes early.

Music-Speeches-Stalls-Procession.

Entertainmemt for the Family.

For those who want to make a weekend of it (arranging your own travel) or those who want to find more out about the Rally please go to www.tuc.org.uk/tolpuddle

Final details will be given out at the 1st June branch meeting at Transport House.

On Tuesday 19th May, 2009, the LDA will have a public consultation at Coin Street Community Centre, South Bank, to gauge opinion on its Action Plan for Tourism in the years to the 2012 Olympics.

Representatives of London Citizens and Unite London Hotel Workers branch will be there to represent Civic Society and Hotel Workers.

The Hotel Workers will be calling for the "Charter for Change" and its five points to be introduced before the Olympics.

OUR CHARTER FOR CHANGE.

1..London Living Wage (LLW) to be adopted across London's Hotels as the minimum wage for hotel workers.

On 25th March,2009 at the Parliamentary launch of the "Rooms for Change" London Hotels Strategy, the Unite Central London Hotel Workers Branch handed out Reward posters. Hotel Workers want to find out if ANY Central London Hotel pays the "London Living Wage" to ALL its workers.
Hotel Workers are offering a £250 reward to help find this hotel.

The current London Living Wage is £7.45 per hour and is reviewed yearly.The London Living Wage [LLW] is calculated by an independent unit financed by the GLA and approved by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson.

All London Hotel Workers branch members are invited to come to Parliament to help us, with London Citizens, launch the strategy to make London Hotels "fit for purpose" for for the 2012 Olympics.

The launch date is Wednesday 25th March in the Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House,Westminster from 6pm to 7pm. We will gather at the Westminster tube entrance opposite Big Ben from 5.20pm to 5.40pm and then walk the 50 yards to Portcullis House.

All members of the Unite 1.1393 Hotel Workers branch and the Unite 1.1647 Restaurant Workers branch are invited to the lobby of MPs at Portcullis House, the administrative heart of Parliament, to show our support for the MPs who are supporting our struggle to change the law on tips.

We are meeting on Wednesday, 11th February,2009 at the Westminster tube exit, opposite Big Ben. We will gather from 10.15am to 10.30am and then walk round the corner to Portcullis House where we will meet Michael Connarty MP and John Cruddas MP, amongst others, to thank them for their support.

Hugh O'Shea, Unite the Union hotel workers representative writes in response to the article printed below......

Mr Gray originally demanded that the 20th January, 2009 article be retracted. This was refused and he was offered a right to reply, which you can read below.

The Hyatt Churchill trialled the replacement of trolleys by hand baskets among several members of staff in Autumn 2008. The trial lasted three days.

One member of staff who took part in the "hand baskets trial" told the union...."this will ruin my knees, ruin my back, ruin my health."