Workers at Bahia Principe and Jewel Paradise Cove go on strike

More tourism workers have taken to the picket line to protest over what they say are poor working conditions.

Today, disgruntled workers that Bahia Principe Grand Jamaica resort and Jewel Paradise Cove, which are both in Runaway Bay, St Ann, walked off the job.

They are pressing for improved employment arrangements.

Efforts to get comments from the management of the both hotels were unsuccessful up to Friday evening.

At Bahia Principe, several managers and supervisors were forced to take charge of the kitchen and prepare dinner for guests amid the strike.

Workers at that hotel have reportedly rejected increases being offered which in some cases amounted to 15 per cent, and withdrew their service, leaving guests without proper service.

A meeting involving the workers' union representative and the hotel's management is being held to discuss the issues.

Today's industrial action is the latest in a series of protests by tourism workers in recent weeks.

Earlier this week, workers at Excellence Oyster Bay Resort in Trelawny protested over working conditions, following similar protests at Iberostar, Secrets St James and Breathless resorts in Montego Bay, and Royalton Negril in Negril.

Protests have been over low wages and poor working conditions, among other issues.

These include allegations of some staff having to work 13 hours without adequate remuneration, the calculation of commissions for staff, the rising number of people being employed on a contractual basis, among other things.

Jamaica's winter tourism season officially begins on December 15, with expectations from industry sources, prior to the series of industrial action, that it would be another successful season.  

- Carl Gilchrist

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