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Hotel Survey Warns of New Years Labour Crisis

Sydney faces a New Years Eve labour crisis with a survey of city hotel workers showing just three per cent would be prepared to work at an ordinary rate of pay.

A survey of 500 workers by the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union carried out in the past month found a massive 92 per cent of workers would refuse to work New Years Eve at base rates of pay and another five per cent unsure what they will do.

Because New Years Eve falls on a Friday, workers employed before midnight can expect to be paid a bare rate of pay.

The NSW Labor Council has called on the Carr Government to follow the lead of Tony Blair in Britain and declare New Years Eve a public holiday.

Other unions, like the LHMU are opening direct talks with employers to receive a better deal that secures workers for what is shaping to be the biggest night's trading ever.

The LHMU, which has already secured a deal with the Star Casino to pay workers triple time, undertook the survey to get an idea of what workers expected for the night.

Key findings include:

- 98 per cent of workers believe they should receive special compensation for working over the New years Eve period.

- 87 per cent of workers do not believe it is right that employers should force staff to work over the New Years Eve period.

- and 94 per cent of workers believe there should be a 'Special Event Allowance' for working big events like New Years Eve the Mardi Gras and the 2000 Olympics.

In terms of compensation, the most workers believed they should receive triple time (41 per cent), ahead of 31 per cent backing quadruple time, a flat-rate dollar allowance (seven per cent), days off in lieu (seven per cent) and double time (six per cent)..

Hospitality industry organiser Troy Burton says the survey result should be a wake-up call for hospitality industry employers who will need skilled and motivated staff for New years eve.

"These statistics show that employers will have trouble raising sufficient staff for December 31 if they are not prepared to share some of the massive profits they will make on the night," Burton says,

He says the hotels campaign is gathering momentum across the industry and there is a growing expectation that employers will have to increase pay for the night.

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  Issue 23 contents

»	Water Staff Pull Plug on Pay Talks
»	Hotel Survey Warns of New Years Labour Crisis
»	Pfizer Jerks Workers Off
»	Shafted: Howard Squibs on Entitlements
»	Olympics Jobs Shortage Looms
»	Nurses Change Tack on Public Health Campaign
»	Actors Save Conditions from Reith Attack
»	Global Mariner Shines Spotlight on Howard Shipping Policy
»	New Currawong Deal Ends 25 Years of Trying
»	Hands off Workers Comp
»	Scully Off the Rails Over Contract Security
»	PiersWatch and The Chaser in Mega Merger Deal
»	Apology to Dr Bridget Griffen-Foley

»	Guest Report
»	Sport
»	Trades Hall
»	Piers Watch

»	Upcoming Chippo Politics Events
»	Bright Oakdale Idea
»	Calling All Linesmen
»	Dissent Within the Ranks!!
»	Reply to Don Macchiato

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