Luxury hotel tries to gag workers

Date: 12 August 2008

One of Australia's largest hotel operators has threatened to discipline - and potentially dismiss - any staff member who talks to the media about their workplace. The Starwood-operated Gold Coast Sheraton Mirage's media gag extends to discussions with lawyers, union representatives and even government officials. The LHMU the hotel workers' union believes even communications between workers and the Workplace Ombudsman could be affected.

"This attempt to gag workers occurs at a time when luxury hotel workers feel compelled to talk about the devastating impacts of the labour shortages on their industry," says Louise Tarrant, National Secretary of the LHMU, the hotel workers' union.

"Staff in Starwood's Queensland Sheraton Mirage hotel have told us the Hotel is demanding they sign a 'global media policy' which specifically states that inquiries from government officials and unions relating to industrial matters must be referred to the HR Manager.

"We believe this would have the effect of muzzling workers who wish to complain about workplace issues. We wouldn't be surprised if they adopted this approach with the rest of their staff around the country.

"Threats to dismiss workers who raise their industrial concerns with their union or the Workplace Ombudsman are almost certainly unlawful and may carry a substantial penalty.

"There is a major labour market crisis in hotels which is reflected in their 48% annual staff turnover, the highest turnover of any industry in Australia. Hotel operators, including Starwood, need to step-up to the challenge of addressing this crisis, not try to hide from it by preventing workers from discussing it.

"Starwood have been asked by the majority of their workers around the country to deal with this crisis, but so far they have failed to respond. We believe Starwood has given workers no choice but to look at exposing this crisis publicly, and in response Starwood threatens to sack them.

"We call on Starwood to immediately withdraw this policy," says Louise Tarrant.

WHAT HOTEL WORKERS SAY:

"I'm disappointed Starwood is treating our colleagues at Sheraton Mirage in this heavy-handed manner. Every worker in Australia has the right to speak to their union, to their lawyer and to the Workplace Ombudsman."
- Tom Skoroplas, Starwood employee at Melbourne's Hotel Westin.

"I believe keeping staff silent is both unethical and unreasonable. There are real problems in our industry with Starwood being no exception. As hotel workers, we are bearing the brunt of this crisis and therefore starwood should reconsider their approach to staff so we can end this crisis through better jobs, better hotels."
- Luke Jones, Starwood employee at Sydney's Hotel Westin.

For further information

Contact:	Nada Vlatko, National Media Officer
Union:	LHMU
Phone:	02 8204 3006
Contact Mobile:	0425 242 691
Email:	lhmu@lhmu.org.au
WWW:	www.betterjobsbetterhotels.com

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