“Stormont, Stormont hear us clear we’re the ones that serve you beer”
Unite the Union hospitality workers demand they have a say in how the sector is brought out of lockdown.
Last updated 21st Jul 2020
Workers from the Hospitality and Tourism sector took to the top of the hill today (Tuesday) for a socially distanced rally at Stormont.
A small group of workers went to parliament buildings to demand they have a say in how the sector is reopened.
Members of Unite the Union met at the bottom of Stormont steps with the intention of giving the Economy Minister, Diane Dodds, a letter demanding an urgent meeting on the need to secure jobs and skills.
Mrs Dodds did not show up, but two SDLP MLA’s, Sinead Mclaughlin and Justin McNulty, came to the bottom of the steps to talk with the workers.
MLA Gerry Carroll also attended the rally and stood with workers who were flying flags and holding a banner.
Those who attended wore masks and socially distanced by two metres and chanted “Stormont, Stormont hear us clear we’re the ones that serve you beer.”
Unite the Union spokesperson, Neil Moore, used a tape measure to ensure those who attended were exactly two metres apart.
At the Rally Gary Lindsay, a student and hospitality worker attended the rally, he said:
“We provide some of the best service in the UK and I would say the world, but we get treated in the same manner as you treat a worm.
“Our wages are low; our conditions are non-existent, and we have no rights.
It’s always been like this, but this crisis has just laid it bare to the world, to Northern Ireland.
“Some of the most respected companies, home grown and international have throughout the crisis used and abused their work forces.
“Some deciding not to furlough their workers and stating arbitrary reasons like it’s not company policy, which I think is disgusting.
“My situation is, unfortunately I haven’t been furloughed, I’m a full-time student, I can’t claim any benefits I don’t get a student loan this year due to my own circumstances, so that wage was my only income and to be told you’re not getting furloughed.
“I live my parents and have a good relationship with them, if I didn’t have that I would be on the streets because I have no income.”
Mr Moore explained that members working in the sectors felt it was necessary to bring their demands to Stormont given the failure of politicians to listen to their voice.
He said: “Unite has commissioned research which indicates that between ten and fifteen thousand hospitality workers in Northern Ireland face the threat of redundancy in the coming weeks.
“While nearly every whim of business owner has been central to the plans to reopen this industry – the voice of workers has been totally excluded.
“We have genuine concerns for safety and for our industry.
“We are keen that opportunities to upskill workers who are currently furloughed have not been pursued.
“Instead, many workers on furlough are being now further abused by exploitative bosses and Unite have been made aware of very shady practices regarding use of the government’s Coronavirus Jobs Retention Scheme.”
Mr Moore added that a growing number of hospitality workers are reconsidering a job in the sector in the future.
According to Mr Moore a survey was conducted with over 400 hospitality workers.
The results showed that 71% said they would not return to work in the sector if they are made redundant, which he said would have serious implications for tourism and the economy.
“Growing numbers of hospitality workers are asking themselves whether they want to stay in this industry – there’s a real concern for the future.
“Hospitality workers deserve to have their voices heard.”
A Department for the Economy spokesperson said:
“The Minister has consistently recognised that the tourism and hospitality sector is a cornerstone of the Northern Ireland economy.
“People in these jobs are central to the success of the sector and it was vital that businesses were supported to stay afloat.
“This is why the Minister was quick to establish a £25,000 grant scheme to support businesses in that sector and which has paid out over £72million to almost 3,000 businesses.
“This scheme was on top of other support measures brought forward by the Executive and UK Government, including the job retention scheme and a rates holiday for businesses in the hospitality and tourism sector until the end of the financial year.
“The Minister led efforts to reopen the tourism and hospitality sector earlier than originally planned and worked to secure the change in social distancing to 1m, with appropriate mitigations in place.
“Mrs Dodds also established an Engagement Forum chaired by the Labour Relations Agency, which included Unite, to develop practical guidance for workplaces, and subsequently set up a Tourism Recovery Steering Group to lead the planning for the recovery of the tourism and hospitality sectors. Unite is also represented on Hospitality Ulster’s recovery group.
“Furthermore, a range of skills initiatives have been brought forward to help people who are furloughed or have been made redundant to upskill, including support for over 2,000 people to achieve qualifications through the local universities and further education colleges.”