Hotel workers launch rescue package

Date: 11 March 2008

Louise Tarrant

Research by the LHMU, the hotel workers' union, reveals a crisis in luxury hotels with devastating staff turnover levels, record injury rates, dangerous workloads, bullying by management and Australia's biggest number of low paid workers.

These factors threaten the growth and reputation of Australian tourism.

The research is reported in "Rescue Package for Luxury Hotels" to be released today at the launch of the better jobs, better hotels national campaign to reform luxury hotels.

Louise Tarrant, LHMU National Secretary says "Australia boasts 6 of the world's top 20 cities in hotel occupancy rates. Luxury hotels are enjoying unprecedented occupancy but can't attract or retain workers.

"A critical shortage of workers and the highest staff turnover of any industry in Australia (48% pa) are creating an epidemic of injuries in luxury hotels.

"Our research has exposed alarming working conditions in these hotels including the worst injury rates for working women in Australia and an overall injury rate of 9.7% pa only fractionally behind the notorious construction industry. Working in the laundries, bedrooms, kitchens and restaurants of luxury hotels is heavy and dangerous work.

This year 1 in 10 of Australia's 30,000 luxury hotels workers can expect to be injured at work.

"Our Rescue Package identifies an opportunity for luxury hotels to move beyond the margins to become a stable and prominent sector of the Australian economy and to provide the next generation of Australian workers with desirable and rewarding careers.

"Government and the tourism industry acknowledge there is a crisis in this service-based industry.

" The only way to fix this is for luxury hotels to employ more staff but this won't happen unless hotels create safe, rewarding and secure jobs for prospective workers.

" We are encouraged by early discussions with industry representatives the Australian Hotels Association and hope we can work with them to fix these problems," says Louise Tarrant.

The "Rescue Package" includes 5 solutions to reform luxury hotels to create better jobs and improve standards for guests:

• Fair pay;

• A national training program and career paths;

• Quality jobs;

• A strong and effective voice for workers;and

• Positive promotion of the industry.

Details of the launch of "Rescue Package for Luxury Hotels"

When: 10.30 am, Tuesday 11 March

Where: The Auditorium, The Mint, 10 Macquarie Street, Sydney

Special guest speaker: The Hon Verity Firth MP, NSW Minister for Climate Change and the Environment and Minister for Women

Contact: Nada Vlatko - 02 8204 3006 or 0412 257 527

For further information

Contact:	Nada Vlatko
Union:	LHMU
Phone:	02 8204 3006
Contact Mobile:	0412 257 527
WWW:	http://www.lhmu.org.au/

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