Rendezvous hotel get a wake up call from Union

Rendezvous hotel get a wake up call from Union

Workers at the Rendezvous Hotel in Central Auckland have given their employer a wake up call by taking industrial action today, while the hotel is full.

The workers, who are members of the Service and Food Workers Union Nga Ringa Tota, say their employer needs to refurbish their wages and conditions, not just the hotel.

"There are over 450 rooms to clean, so the managers are going to be pretty busy," says SFWU Northern Regional Secretary Jill Ovens.

The loyal and long-standing staff have not had a payrise for more than two years, and although their employer has made an offer, this is conditional on cuts in the workers terms and conditions.

"Rendezvous is offering our members a miserable 1.5% payrise for two years, and they are trying to take away sick leave, affordable parking and subsidised health care."

"Our members are not prepared to accept these cutbacks, particularly when they hear that the parent company in Australia might be paying for refurbishments to the hotel, while at the same time the boss wants to slash their conditions!" says Jill Ovens.
"Our members are not prepared to sell their conditions for a payrise of 20 cents. It’s just ridiculous to expect that."

Rendezvous housekeepers say they are exhausted from having to do 18 rooms a day each – three more than most hotels expect.

Ms Ovens says these workers are fed up of being taken for granted.

"Our members will not accept these cutbacks, and are prepared to do whatever it takes to win this." says Jill Ovens.

ENDS

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