300 jam-packed in the Commission

Date: 22 March 2000

Today, over 300 Melbourne hotel workers gave the ACTU Living Wage Case a human face. I don't think the Full Bench of the Industrial Relations Commission had ever seen anything like it as over 300 chefs and room attendants quietly filed into the court to listen to proceedings.

The hotel employees came from a number of the finest hotels across Melbourne including the Le Meridien, Hyatt, Hilton, Carlton Crest and Victoria. The workers met in a church hall close to the Industrial Relations Commission where the Living Wage Case is being held.

Chefs, room attendants and ACTU Secretary Greg Combet addressed the cheering workers, as they demanded five star wages for a five star job.

The meeting at the hall represented a new face of Australian unionism, with men and women from all backgrounds and of all ages meeting together to rally around the modest demand of a $24 pay rise.

Bongo drums, whistles and tram bells

Bongo drums and whistles welcomed each new speaker, the carnival attitude reflecting the excitement of everyone in the hall. The hotel employees then marched to the Commission along exclusive Collins Street, with toots of support from passing cars. Trams rang their bells in recognition of the hotel workers cause.

Once they reached the commission the 300 made their way up to the 39th floor and quietly filed into the hearing - taking up all the available seating and having to cram into the large court room. People were spilling out of the door as an ACTU representative put their case to the Commission.

Exec pay storms ahead

On the same day that the Financial Review reported executive pay was going up 6.5 per cent, and interim profits have soared by 14 per cent; hotel workers, working a 40-hour week, are asking for a modest 60 cents an hour pay rise.

The hotel workers are Australian people who want enough money to cover the cost of the GST and increasing interest rates. With a rapidly growing gap between the rich and the poor in this country, these hotel workers demonstrated that they understand that when profits rise, so should the wages of all the employees in a company, not just the executives.

For further information

Contact:	David Whiteley or Bernie Dean
Union:	ACTU
Phone:	039 2066065
Email:	Living-Wage-2000@excite.com

LaborNET is proudly created, designed and programmed
by Social Change Online for the Labor Council of NSW
[Credits] [Site Matters]