Hotel employees and hotel owners negotiate to solve major problems
hotels
20 Jul 2022
/ 19:12
CORFU. Hotel owners: The Panhellenic collective agreement in the tourism sector expires at the end of the year and we have to enter into a fair negotiation for all sides."
The Corfu Hoteliers Association met with the Hotel & Tourist Catering Employees Union in order to discuss the problems of hotel employees and whether there is a possibility to actually improve working conditions. At the same time, there will be negotiations to establish labour and wage standards, which will be commonly accepted by both sides.
"We are in the middle of the tourist season and there is a serious increase in the exploitation of employees and their rights by employers. At the moment there is a serious shortage of staff which is in no way justified by the excuses given by the employers" said the Corfu Hotel & Tourist Catering Employees Union President Stamatis Pelais after the meeting.
Lack of personnel
"According to official data, there are 6,700 unemployed in Corfu, of which 1,800 come from the hotel & tourist catering sector," added Mr. Pelais. "It is a serious issue that must be clearly answered by those responsible, i.e. the hoteliers and owners of large businesses in the tourism industry, who all the previous years burdened employees with exhausting work and reduced wages. As a result, many choose to change their profession," he said.
Hotel owners: Honest discussion
The Corfu Hoteliers Association President Babis Voulgaris stated the following: "Our meeting with the Union today was an honest discussion and that is what's important. We may have our disagreements but what we agreed on is that tourism is everyone's business - both the hoteliers' and, to a very large extent, the workers'. We rely on them, so there has to be a fair share when it comes to our hotels. That's why we are here, to discuss and hopefully there will be peaceful labour relations. Even though there are tensions, we see them and we understand the difficulties that exist for both sides."
After two very difficult years of pandemic, this year we are doing very well, at least in terms of arrivals - in terms of results there are problems.
Next year will certainly be a very good year too, but we will probably face other problems, which we keep seeing in our sector and which depend on a lot of external factors.
"We were here today as two unions to discuss and come up with some common solutions. It will certainly take time for what we are discussing to become real and we hope to find a solution that will be fair for everyone" concluded Mr. Voulgaris.
Compliance with the collective agreement
Following the meeting, Corfu Hoteliers Association made a written statement: "The Union's position was and still is the compliance with the mandatory collective agreement by all hotels and the pressure to the responsible state bodies to conduct the necessary controls.
We also stressed the difficulties that the businesses face not only in Corfu but throughout Europe in finding staff. A problem that also makes the services offered dysfunctional.
The Panhellenic collective agreement in the sector expires at the end of the year and we have to enter into a fair negotiation for all sides, recognising the enormous difficulties that have arisen for everyone (employees and employers) due to very high increases in prices and the two years of pandemic.
We should protect our island
Both sides agreed that the state should give emphasis on tourism education and support the employees during the winter months of unemployment. The employees' demands have recently led to strikes in various hotels and as a result, major travel agencies abroad have contacted our Association expressing their concern.
During the meeting we drew the Corfu Hotel & Tourist Catering Employees Union management's attention to the fact that although we are recognising the problems that exist, we have to protect our island and the customers who choose to visit it. The strength of Greek tourism is the sense of hospitality that its people bring out and we must all contribute to ensure that our customers' experience remains authentic."
"We are in the middle of the tourist season and there is a serious increase in the exploitation of employees and their rights by employers. At the moment there is a serious shortage of staff which is in no way justified by the excuses given by the employers" said the Corfu Hotel & Tourist Catering Employees Union President Stamatis Pelais after the meeting.
Lack of personnel
"According to official data, there are 6,700 unemployed in Corfu, of which 1,800 come from the hotel & tourist catering sector," added Mr. Pelais. "It is a serious issue that must be clearly answered by those responsible, i.e. the hoteliers and owners of large businesses in the tourism industry, who all the previous years burdened employees with exhausting work and reduced wages. As a result, many choose to change their profession," he said.
Hotel owners: Honest discussion
The Corfu Hoteliers Association President Babis Voulgaris stated the following: "Our meeting with the Union today was an honest discussion and that is what's important. We may have our disagreements but what we agreed on is that tourism is everyone's business - both the hoteliers' and, to a very large extent, the workers'. We rely on them, so there has to be a fair share when it comes to our hotels. That's why we are here, to discuss and hopefully there will be peaceful labour relations. Even though there are tensions, we see them and we understand the difficulties that exist for both sides."
After two very difficult years of pandemic, this year we are doing very well, at least in terms of arrivals - in terms of results there are problems.
Next year will certainly be a very good year too, but we will probably face other problems, which we keep seeing in our sector and which depend on a lot of external factors.
"We were here today as two unions to discuss and come up with some common solutions. It will certainly take time for what we are discussing to become real and we hope to find a solution that will be fair for everyone" concluded Mr. Voulgaris.
Compliance with the collective agreement
Following the meeting, Corfu Hoteliers Association made a written statement: "The Union's position was and still is the compliance with the mandatory collective agreement by all hotels and the pressure to the responsible state bodies to conduct the necessary controls.
We also stressed the difficulties that the businesses face not only in Corfu but throughout Europe in finding staff. A problem that also makes the services offered dysfunctional.
The Panhellenic collective agreement in the sector expires at the end of the year and we have to enter into a fair negotiation for all sides, recognising the enormous difficulties that have arisen for everyone (employees and employers) due to very high increases in prices and the two years of pandemic.
We should protect our island
Both sides agreed that the state should give emphasis on tourism education and support the employees during the winter months of unemployment. The employees' demands have recently led to strikes in various hotels and as a result, major travel agencies abroad have contacted our Association expressing their concern.
During the meeting we drew the Corfu Hotel & Tourist Catering Employees Union management's attention to the fact that although we are recognising the problems that exist, we have to protect our island and the customers who choose to visit it. The strength of Greek tourism is the sense of hospitality that its people bring out and we must all contribute to ensure that our customers' experience remains authentic."
