SOFITEL CLOSURE, WORKERS UNEMPLOYMENT CALLS TO RETENTION

Sofitel Philippine Plaza, a 51-year-old hotel recently announced its closure leaving more than 1,000 workers unemployed when it officially shuts its doors. Workers of the hotel were calling out and holding protest to retain their jobs after the reported “rehabilitation.”

Employees of the five-star-hotel to be left unemployed due to its closure (Photo courtesy of Philippine Star)

“What we want, what the workers at Sofitel want, is no termination. Employment should be continuous without [the] loss of seniority rights and benefits under the collective bargaining agreement. We are willing to wait until Sofitel reopens. We are willing to wait,” the group expressed.

According to the National Union of Workers in Hotel, Restaurant, and Allied Industries (NUWHRAIN), While the hotel management is planning a major renovation on behalf of the Sofitel employees who were fired, improvements to the amenities and features have already begun, with some completed earlier as this year.

Arnold Bautista, a member of NUWHRAIN Philippine Plaza Chapter (PPC) and Philippine Plaza Supervisors Chapter (PPSC), which represent the rank-and-file and supervisory employees of Sofitel said that, “The renovations will address allegedly unsafe conditions in the hotel. Given that the renovations will continue, the union believes that the closure is only temporary and that the hotel will eventually reopen. So, we ask, why terminate the workers if the establishment will continue its operations?” 

The employees said that the hotel administration is hiding their future plans and acting dishonestly, even though the lives and livelihoods of the staff members are at risk.

PPHI President Esteban Esteban Peña Sy clarified that on July 1, the hotel will be permanently closed and will not be rehabilitated.

“The speculation that the hotel will not cease operations on July 1 but will just undergo some renovations is totally wrong. The owners of the hotel are responsible investors, and they consider human life to be the number one concern,” Sy said

“Since we do not own the land on which Sofitel Philippine Plaza is located, we are uncertain of the future of the hotel. We cannot make any commitment on something that we are not sure or we are not in control,” he added.

Source: Daily Tribune 

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