CPA - The Guardian

For the first time hotel workers will come together as a single voice for their sector. Through the new Hotel Worker City Committees every hotel will be represented. It’s the first step towards workers being on the same level as the big hotel owners and operators.

Hotel workers – members of the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers’ Union – will become industry experts. Over time they’ll know more about the tourism industry, and the hotel sector, than their own general managers.

Committee members will discuss what’s happening in the industry and give their perspectives. Hotel workers will direct the “better jobs better hotels” campaign locally and make sure the campaign is on track to deliver a new national agreement for luxury hotel workers.

In July representatives of each City Committee will meet in Canberra for the new National Hotel Workers Committee.

This Committee will be a powerful voice for hotel workers. Committee members will make sure politicians understand what is happening in luxury hotels and make important decisions about the negotiations.

It is important for workers to take on this role because the big industry players have failed to build community or political support. In recent months the government has spent tens of billions of dollars to save jobs in other industries and none to save jobs in tourism. That’s because tourism jobs aren’t thought to be good, secure, well paying jobs and because the industry does not have a clear, coherent, capable voice.

These Committees will be that voice.

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