Workers at the Palestine Hotel, one of the most prestigious in Baghdad's 'Green Zone' and a favourite haunt of foreign journalists have concluded successful strike action the IFTU reported today.
The action by hotel workers follows a two-day strike that won the reinstatement of 27 dismissed workers at the 'Baghdad Hotel' late last year, which was organised by the IFTU. One of the chief developments of last year's dispute was the formation of 'Union Committees' at the Baghdad and other large hotels.
Muhsin Jasim, Baghdad Regional Secretary of the Public & Social Service Workers’ Union said: "At the time that the hotel workers were dismissed, there was no union committee at the hotel, but as a result of the strike we formed a union committee. The strike didn’t only educate our members, they educated the hotel manager too."
"The strike was very difficult for the management because many Americans stay at the hotel. They were very angry and disturbed that the hotel wasn’t cleaned for 2 days. They tried to bribe us by inviting us to eat dinner with them, but we refused. In all 180 workers at the hotel took part in the strike – the entire workforce. Workers in other big hotels saw the strike and formed union committees as well."
In the latest dispute at the Palestine Hotel, the IFTU report that an agreement has been reached with the hotel management, for an immediate wage increase. However, as significant is the union's success in persuading the management to resume negotiations with the workers' Union Committee' officials for better working conditions, wages and pensions.
No comments:
Post a Comment