Hilton Hotel workers strike

by Jules Andrews

Jack Mundey, Jesse Jackson, and a rap-singing union organiser marked an 
eventful 24-hour strike by Sydney Hilton Hotel workers last Saturday. Staff 
walked out after talks with management broke down over the planned 
retrenchment of nearly 500 workers at the end of November.

The Sydney Hilton Hotel is spending $400 million on an 18-month facelift, 
but is not prepared to offer its loyal workforce a good retrenchment deal.

The Hotel Division of the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers 
Union (LHMU) began the campaign in late August as soon as the retrenchments 
were announced, and has already made some important ground in securing the 
rights and futures of the Hilton workers.

Of an initial list of 18 union demands, only two major sticking points 
remain: that the Hilton pay four weeks wages for every year of service as 
redundancy payment; and that the hotel offer first preference for re-
employment to existing employees made redundant.

"This is expected to be the first of a series of stoppages until the Hilton 
Hotel management sits down and offers a real and decent deal to its 
workers", said LHMU Hotel Union NSW Assistant Secretary, Mark Boyd.

"They are getting rid of their staff at the worst time of the year, just 
weeks before Christmas and they are offering a retrenchment deal which is 
less than half what most Sydney workers can expect in a retrenchment 
package", said Mr Boyd.

"It's Labour Day ... when we commemorate the struggles of generations of 
working people who came before us to win a good deal in the workplace. Here 
at the Sydney Hilton Hotel we can see that there are still employers who 
don't see their workforce as human beings, who merely view their workers 
through accountants' lenses."

On the night prior to the strike, it is believed that Hilton Hotel 
management smuggled strike-breakers into the hotel in an attempt to subvert 
the strike.

"They want to bring in one group of low-waged immigrant women workers to 
undermine another group of low-waged immigrant women workers, "Mark Boyd, 
NSW LHMU Hotel Union Assistant Secretary said.

The Sydney Hilton Hotel workforce is made up largely of low-waged women 
workers who come from Asia and the Pacific — including the Philippines, 
Indonesia, China, Vietnam and Fiji.

Mr Boyd said the Hotel's plan was to lock the strike-breakers up in spare 
bedrooms, so they wouldn't be able speak to the existing workforce, and 
then unlock the doors and let them out to work on Saturday morning when 
union members were in the street.

Mr Boyd said the LHMU is working with leading members of the Filipino and 
Fijian communities to get a message out that community members should not 
allow themselves to be used in this way.

On the day of the strike, workers and supporters formed a picket across the 
Hotel's George Street entrance.

LHMU organiser Jagath Bandara worked up crowd enthusiasm and provided much 
needed cheer by performing pro-worker/anti-Hilton rap chants to pop music 
tunes.

Jack Mundey, former Builders Labourers Federation Secretary headl the list 
of speakers at the picket.

Mr Mundey said the Hilton Hotel "owes the trade union movement — big 
time".

"They should treat their current workers better, because without the trade 
union movement they would not have the 'treasure' which they now value so 
much — the Marble Bar".

"When the hotel was built the original developers wanted to knock down the 
Marble Bar — a heritage site. It only survived because my union, the BLF, 
put a ban on knocking it down.

"When we put the ban on we had a lot of knockers. Now the architects behind 
the refurbishment are saying the Marble Bar is the 'jewel' in the 
redevelopment."

The Sydney Hilton campaign has received broad support, both internationally 
and from the most surprising quarters.

Mr Chris Hartcher, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition Coalition Parties, 
stood up in parliament to support the workers. Alan Jones, renowned rabid 
right-wing radio announcer, attacked Hilton management on air.

"I'll tell you something", said Jones (a usual prelude to a tirade). "When 
you can afford a four hundred million dollar face lift ... and basically, 
the wealth of the joint is made by the workers, and you put four hundred 
and fifty people out of work, you ought to be able to afford more than 
eight weeks in redundancy".

Another speaker at the rally was Maria Eva Tingson, President of the 
Philippines-Australia Migrant Association.

"In your situation, it is clear that the corporate business system is a 
tool for exploitation of the working people and puts first, greed for 
scandalous profits rather than to value justly your labour", said Ms 
Tingson.

"Long live the LHMU! Working class unite!"

Also joining the workers on the picket line were: Andrew Ferguson, NSW 
Secretary of the CFMEU Construction Division; Lee Rhiannon, NSW Greens 
Parliamentarian; and Peter Symon, General Secretary of the Communist Party 
of Australia.

Strong messages of solidarity were received from the IUF, the international 
hotel workers' union and the NGG hotel workers' union in Germany.

One of the most stirring messages of support came from leading civil rights 
campaigner and former US Presidential candidate, Reverend Jesse Jackson.

Recording a personal message on video from his headquarters in Chicago, 
Rev. Jackson offered advice and solidarity to the Hilton workers.

"I too have walked the picket line, marched with hotel workers.

"I know that low-wage workers, especially recent immigrants, feel 
intimidated by the wealthy executives and high-priced lawyers of the 
corporations.

"The Hilton Hotel is not just going to give you what you need without 
effort. That would be, as Frederick Douglas said, like the farmer who wants 
crops without ploughing the field and sowing the seeds, and to have rain 
without the thunder and lightning.

"Now you need to organise. You need to build your union and your community 
coalition. You need to reach out to your neighbours and friends.

"This struggle can be won. You can make it happen."