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Is the sun setting on workers' rights at Sol Melia Indonesia?

Posted to the IUF website 03-Jul-2008

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The major Spanish-based hotel chain Sol Melia has moved to squash workers' rights in their flagship Indonesian hotel, the Jakarta Gran Melia.

In 2005 the hotel signed a collective agreement with the IUF-affiliated SPM Gran Melia, but management has systematically refused to implement key parts of the agreement they signed.

Harsh dismissals, attacks on union rights

When the union sought to secure implementation of the agreement (for example the negotiated health and pension plans), the company responded with discriminatory dismissals targeting union members, officers and activists. Twelve union members, however, have refused to accept their forced dismissal from the company and have chosen to fight for their rights. Management's response has been to bar union representatives from the premises and to withhold from the union dues collected through the checkoff system.

Surveillance of union activities and officers

The company has also installed many CCTV surveillance cameras aimed at the union and its representatives. These measures are clearly designed to intimidate the union and its members - a pattern of repression of basic rights going back to 2005.

How you can help!

Sol Melia is a highly visible global brand in the global tourism market. The Sol Melia Group operates over 300 hotels in 27 countries, mostly in Spain, Latin America and the Caribbean. The flagship brands are Meli�, Sol and Tryp Hotels, followed by Paradisus Resorts, Sol Meli� Vacation Club, and Luxury Hotel.

Tell Sol Melia how you feel about their treatment of workers at the Gran Melia in Jakarta. Tell them to respect the collective agreement their hotel management has signed. Management must allow the union to function freely, reinstate the twelve unfairly dismissed union members and stop harassing the union through surveillance and other measures.

Click here to send a message to Sol Melia's CEO and join our campaign in support of these courageous Indonesian hotel workers. Copies of your messages will be automatically sent to the IUF.