Comisiones Obreras has announced the start of a strike at the Meliá Sol Lanzarote Hotel, in Puerto del Carmen, starting on Friday, February 7 and has denounced "the passivity of the" Balearic company to solve the labor problems reported by the staff in Lanzarote.
According to a press release issued by the union, "after several months of meetings" they have decided "unanimously" to call this mobilization. The Works Committee, with all its members from CCOO, has tried to reach "solvent" agreements in the face of the "work overload, the lack of personnel, the flight of professionals due to low wages and deficiencies in the facilities", among other reasons stated.
In this sense, Comisiones Obreras has indicated that "they called a meeting" with the management of Meliá in the Canary Islands and that it took "more than a year to be held, ending without progress."
In the press release, CCOO has highlighted that "the company has been excusing itself with the repetitive mantra that 'there are no workers to cover the vacancies', to justify the continuous work overload." Meanwhile, it has accused the company of "not providing solutions to attract the professionals that are needed, not even to retain those who are already on staff."
The union estimates that almost 25% of the staff are on voluntary leave and 30% of the staff are on replacement contracts. "This has led to an unsustainable situation in the hotel, with an excessive staff turnover, which does not allow the consolidation of the staff," he indicated.
At the same time, he added that there are other problems related to the "lack of investment in occupational health, mechanical means, lack of medical assistance in the mutual insurance company, a large number of musculoskeletal injuries, derived from the work overload."
Comisiones Obreras has pointed out the "continuous shift rotations", where employees have to face "more than 40 different schedules, which makes rest and family reconciliation difficult."
CCOO has added that these mobilizations are being "viral" and "supported by countless workplaces, inside and outside the islands, especially by the hotels of the Meliá company throughout the Spanish territory, with videos and statements of support and solidarity."
In addition, there will be concentrations at the hotel doors in the morning and afternoon. To conclude, they have highlighted that the workers point out that "it is no longer just a matter of work overload, salaries or labor improvements, it is a matter of respect and dignity.” The staff is convinced that, "if there is no gesture from the company, they will firmly support the strike and warn that it will continue at Easter, if an agreement is not reached."
