Delano Seiveright, Senior Strategist in the Ministry of Tourism, reasons with Iberostar workers amid their protest on Friday.
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Iberostar hotel worker Tico Johnson; Delano Seiveright, Senior Strategist in the Ministry of Tourism; and Lambert Brown, President of the University and Allied Workers Union
By Kimone Witter/Clinton McGregor
The Ministry of Tourism is attempting to end industrial action at another hotel in St. James where workers are demanding higher wages - the second such protest in three days.
Staff at Iberostar walked off the job claiming exploitation, which they say has prevented them from improving their lives.
They are calling for an increase in their salaries and a change to the three week pay cycle.
"We deh yah seh we a do di right and a stay out a crime and violence, and we cyah own nut'n. Two a we together cyah get a NHT house, cyah buy car, and we have pickney a send a go a school. Wi fortnightly pay turn to semi-monthy, which is three weeks," Tico Johnson complained, noting that six weeks' pay does not amount to $100,000.
He added that transportation costs are deducted from all workers' salaries despite not all of them being able to travel of the dedicated staff bus.
Furthermore, the employees say their salaries are sometimes paid late.
Officials of the Ministries of Labour and Tourism are meeting with staff representatives and the general manager of Iberostar to resolve the grievances.
Delano Seiveright, Senior Strategist in the Ministry of Tourism, spoke with the protesting workers ahead of the meeting, telling them the hotel management have committed to fixing the issues.
"I spoke with the owners of Iberstar in Spain...and they have confirmed that the payroll system must be fixed as soon as possible. So I can confirm with you that they will fix the payroll once and for all. The second set of issues, I'm told, include salaries. I'm told changes are coming for that," he announced to the cheering workers.
Mr. Seiveright said the ministries will ensure the promised changes are forthcoming.
He said the Ministry of Labour will give oversight to ensure the workers' rights are protected, while the Tourism Ministry will follow up on a weekly basis with the staff.
Last month, workers at two Royalton Hotels in western Jamaica also stayed off the job, while staff at Secrets and Breathless Resorts and Spa took industrial action on Tuesday to demand higher wages and better working conditions.
Following Tuesday's strike at Secrets Resort, the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions repeated its call for a Joint Industrial Council, noting that the concerns raised by the workers are not unique to those hotels. It said the industrial council would seek to address the issues before they cascade across other properties.
Review fixed term contracts
Meanwhile, President of the University and Allied Workers Union, Lambert Brown, believed the spate of strike action by hotel workers is a clear sign that the government must review the issuing of Fixed Term Contracts.
He argued that workers in the hotel industry are offered little or no protection under the current arrangement.
"Clearly, the relationship and the terms and conditions of work in the hotel sector is creating major problem. It's abusive in many ways and the workers are protesting.... It's time to fix this so called contract work and short term, fixed term contract, which is denying the workers justice and their rights to representation and benefits," he urged.
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