The Brisbane Broncos won’t be experiencing full kiwi hospitality this weekend. The team is staying at Auckland’s plush Crowne Plaza hotel, where room attendants and other staff have gone on strike.
Around twenty members of Unite union are on strike; calling for a pay rise and better working conditions. “We are underpaid and overworked”
says Unite delegate Tapa Jago. “We are fed up with the low pay and heavy workloads”.
The hotel industry is one of the lowest paid sectors, says Unite organiser Daphna Whitmore. “The starting rate is just $13 an hour” she said. “The hotel made a gross profit of $8.5 million in 2008 but claims it cannot afford to lift the wages.”
The 360 room hotel is 100 percent full this weekend with the Waratahs and Brisbane Broncos teams staying.