This week’s featured overall development as Newsmaker of the Week is the range of reactions to the two separate protests staged by hotel workers at three resorts in St James last week.
Jamaica’s tourism sector was thrown into the spotlight as hotel workers at Montego Bay-based hotels, Secrets and Breathless resorts, as well as Iberostar Hotel, staged strikes on Tuesday and Friday, respectively.
The workers, for the most part, were demanding better wages and working conditions.
The industrial actions rocking the hotel sector began last month at Royalton Negril in Westmoreland, which resulted in a senior manager of that hotel being suspended in connection with the action that was taken by employees at the resort.
Social media users have reacted in support of the protesting workers, saying that they deserve to be compensated for their hard work in making the island’s tourist sector achieve record earnings year after year.
However, some persons are warning that the first protest at Royalton in Negril, as evidenced now with workers at another three hotels joining in, could be the catalyst to spur more strikes at other hotels, which could destabilise the local tourism industry that has contributed so significantly to the island’s economy for many years.
Arguably, it has been a tough couple of months for the tourism sector in Jamaica, as it is still recovering from the effects of the United States Level 3 travel advisory for the island in January, the impact of Hurricane Beryl in July, water shortages in at least one resort centre, and shortages of some skilled labour in the sector.
The Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), in a release, took note of some of the challenges, including reduced occupancy rates at hotels, and has announced that it has established a working committee to look at the issues and the respective impacts on tourist workers.
In the latest protest by local hotel workers, those employed to Iberostar Hotel took to the streets on Friday, listing grievances such as low wages and discrepancies in the hotel’s payroll system.
The cries of the employees were, “We want more money! We want more money!”
The demonstration prompted an emergency meeting between Ministry of Tourism officials, staff representatives and hotel management.
Senior Advisor and Strategist in the Ministry of Tourism, Delano Seiveright, who addressed the disgruntled workers, emphasised the critical role workers play in the success of “our world-renown product”.
Seiveright urged open and honest dialogue between staff and management, acknowledging that some concerns are “frankly basic” and require prompt attention.
While recognising the importance of investments in the tourism sector, which have created thousands of jobs and generated significant revenue for Jamaica, Seiveright cautioned that a delicate balance must be maintained.
“These investments sustain the livelihoods of many, and we must protect and nurture this delicate balance as we move forward. We understand the times and some of the manoeuvres, so it’s important that everyone is reminded of this balance,” he warned.
Three days before, representatives from the Ministry and Labour and the Ministry of Tourism met with executives of Secrets Resort and the neighbouring Breathless Resort in Montego Bay, St James, to address similar strike actions by disgruntled workers.
Following the meeting, the workers decided to return to their respective jobs.
Secrets Resort has reportedly renewed its commitment to supporting staff by ensuring two days off per week, Christmas bonuses, free laundry services, and incentives like a two-car giveaway for outstanding employees.
“I know for a fact that the hotel has ensured that staff here have two days off per week, a strong pension scheme, and various other benefits, including confirmed Christmas bonuses,” Seiveright said then relative to the situation at Secrets Resort.
He also pledged that the Ministry of Tourism will conduct follow-up meetings to ensure the workers’ concerns are adequately addressed.
Delano Seiveright (file photo)
“We will have follow-up meetings to address grievances. Not all issues will be resolved immediately, but I believe most will be settled in the coming weeks,” he assured.
Seiveright said miscommunication may have contributed to the workers’ frustrations, emphasising the importance of clear, direct and frequent communication between management and staff.
During Tuesday’s protest by employee of both Secrets and Breathless resorts, a striking hotel worker complained to reporters about her particular workplace being short-staffed.
“We feel like slaves, working from 8am to 9pm without any remunerations,” said the worker.
She shared that a colleague of hers had to do a surgery costing $640,000, this after she (the colleague) ruptured a vein after having to stand up for long hours on the job.
Meanwhile, in response to Friday’s protest at Iberostar Hotel, Opposition Spokesperson on Tourism and Linkages, Senator Janice Allen, called for urgent intervention by the Government to restore stability to the tourism industry.
A statement from the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) on Friday said Allen expressed her firm support for the workers who are calling for fair treatment and adequate compensation, declaring that their contributions are the backbone of the tourism industry.
At the same time, she acknowledged the challenges faced by investors who have been grappling with a series of disruptions this year, including travel advisories, severe water shortages in Negril, rising inflation, and the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl on July 3.
“This has been an exceptionally trying year for Jamaica’s tourism industry,” Allen asserted.
Continuing, she said: “While the workers’ grievances must be addressed, we cannot overlook the mounting pressures on our investors, who are essential to maintaining the global reputation of Brand Jamaica.”
Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett was not spared from Allen’s wrath, as she criticised the Government for failing to act decisively to prevent the escalation of the challenges.
Janice Allen (file photo)
According to her, “The Government must shoulder responsibility for the current state of the industry.
“It is clear that if Minister Bartlett had been more attentive to the needs of both workers and investors, and had acted swiftly to mitigate these issues, the sector would not be in such turmoil as we approach the winter tourist season,” she suggested.
The Opposition spokesperson called for calm and constructive dialogue among all stakeholders, urging the Government to engage with the Opposition in crafting effective, long-term solutions for the tourism sector and its workers.
In its statement late Friday, the JHTA said it has taken keen notice of the recent unrest by some workers within the sector.
It noted that 2024 has been extremely challenging for its member businesses due to a confluence of external shocks that continue to severely depress both room rates and hotel occupancy.
It said a growing problem of insufficient air seats to Jamaica to satisfy the rapidly expanding tourism sector, has exacerbated the problem. According to the JHTA, this has impacted tourist arrivals and occupancy, which have had impact on staffing schedules and aspects of compensation for some workers.
The association said the referenced external shocks include negative travel advisories from the US, Canada and the UK.
“These advisories have had way more airplay in these source markets than ever before, resulting in travel advisors as well as direct consumers being cautious about Jamaica, and depressed demand,” the JHTA indicated.
It also cited among the shocks, the protracted US presidential election and higher than normal load factors on airlines serving Jamaica.
“With the increase in Jamaica’s room stock of hotels, but in particular the rapid expansion of the Airbnb-type accommodations (and other similar facilities), the demand for air seats is greater than what is being provided by airlines flying to Jamaica,” the JHTA stated.
It added that, “Airlines on the other hand are limited in their ability to add more planes, due to not only inadequate staffing and the challenges caused by the grounding of the Boeing ‘Max’ aircraft planes due to maintenance issues, but also the backlog of new plane deliveries from both Boeing and Airbus.”
The JHTA said the new working committee, chaired by its president (Robin Russell), will take a broad look at the numerous challenges facing the tourism sector, including those impacting workers.
Robin Russell
The information gathered, according to the JHTA, will form the basis of, firstly, an understanding of the conditions that exist, and ultimately provide the basis for recommendations to be made to members to take any necessary action, where needed, across the sector.
Meantime, the strikes have sparked concerns about the potential impact on Jamaica’s reputation as a premier tourist destination, especially from some foreigners on social media.
Other Jamaicans, however, are standing by the local hotel workers as they speak out for better pay and working conditions.
“Hope these strikes make the management at the other hotels start doing their workers right,” a female Facebook user posted.
“Tourism is only important on the books of this Government, while they pay scant regards and disrespect for the true backbone of the tourism industry… the workers,” a man wrote.
“No matter the number of tourist arrival, if there are no workers, then there is no tourism. The managers and the tourism minister are the only persons who are benefitting,” he further opined.
Said another man: “My point may not be in favour with the crowd, but striking will only hurt the tourism sector on a whole. Sorry, but can’t support this. Speak to your managers first!”
In response, a woman said that, “I’m sure the workers have done that and their issues are not addressed. Our forefathers protested for better, so let the workers do the same.”
On Instagram, a woman expressed her support for the protesting hotel workers.
“Tourism/hotel protests… I support this trend of hotel workers standing up for their rights and demanding better pay/working conditions.
“If tourism is so important to the economy, then the workers should be too,” she said.
File photo of airport arrivals
But, in responding, a man told her that she should be reminded of the possible implications of such actions by the workers.
“I understand your point… but also know that there (are) negatives to (this) trend that might hurt the industry for years, and it might not recover from it,” he opined.
Said a woman: “I really don’t like these protests, because a friend experienced the one at Royalton (in Negril) and she said persons were fighting for food and the rooms were left uncleaned for the duration of the protesting.”
Added an Instagrammer: “The domino effect is ongoing, but a word of caution to the workers; the winter (tourist) season is starting, be careful, please.”
Another man stated that, “Prioritise the mental, physical and financial well-being of the people (workers)!”
This post was originally published on here
