Hilton Brisbane

Hilton Brisbane

The Hilton Hotel has basically two policies. One concerns parking and the other pets – yes you bring Fido. It’s a real pity they don’t extend that portfolio of policies to include one on fair pay, another on good work conditions and they could really knock themselves out by having a policy about how they care for the environment. The First Star has been hearing pretty disturbing stories about how the Hilton treats its workers – never mind your pets.

The Hotel clearly has a hostile attitude towards their workers having information about their rights in the workplace. All Hilton Brisbane staff have received written communication actually discouraging them from discussing their rights with other workers or union organisers.

When management discovered The First Star was trying to speak to staff as they arrived at work, staff were called and told not to enter through their normal staff door and to enter through the main hotel doors. This is a pretty extreme attempt to ensure workers don’t receive information about their rights.

Then the Hotel waited until the very last minute to rush through a WorkChoices contract, denying their workers access to Fair Work Laws for another four long years. Given the last federal election was all about the Australian community voting out John Howard’s WorkChoice laws, we’re not sure who at the Hilton has decided they know better than their guests and their community.

But that’s not all.

The First Star has heard while housekeepers are paid (according to their pay slips) by the hour, they have been told by management they are paid by the room. For example: they are told to clean 17 rooms a day between 8am-4pm but as soon as 4pm hits and the rooms aren’t complete they have to sign off and continue till the rooms are done on their time.

Meanwhile back in the kitchen, those fabulous pastries that use to be made by a team of six pastry chefs are now being produced by two young women. The First Star thinks those women must be working huge hours to maintain the same output with two that used to be maintained by six.

We also keep hearing reports that rosters are being put out with less then 24 hours notice – remember this is an industry with 60% casual workers!

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The comments below are the opinions of the individuals posting the comment and do not represent the view of The First Star. Read our comments policy.

On the subject of of food apparently the meals in the canteen used to be free then they started charging $2.20 though that is not much to pay for a meal, I just think it was petty to start charging it if they didn't used to. Though the toast is free, resulting in long line-ups at the toaster. Not only that - staff can get work related calls in the canteen, disturbing their unpaid breaks.

12:34 AM Aug 7th by Canteen visitor

when we go for are morning break we hit a bottleneck Yes the queue for the toaster we are so loyal to are customers that some of us go with out as we for go on are second toaster for the guest that was brought by are social club funds AS we only have ten minuets

4:53 AM Aug 4th by hungry for toast

Don't know about anyone else but do you like it when you are an apprentice and you are told to write down your extra hours as 'work experience' and not get paid for them. Your manager wants you to work these extra hours for 'learning' Correct me if I'm wrong isn't that what being an apprentice is all about, learning?? Or ones that aren't an apprentice are told if you want to get anywhere you have to do all these extra hours on your own back. Hmmmmmmmmmm while they are there in their high paid job?? This is while managers and the company is making how much????? Fair go for all. I say. As for Go Away, open your eyes!!! Do you really think you are in a good position, Hospitality being one of the lowest paid Industries, isn't it time for a 'Fair Go' As for Richard, come join us anyday and see what a days work is about. 'Get a real job'? I hear you say Richard, if hospitality isn't a real job where would people be when there is no hotels open because they went and got 'a real job'? hmmm thought as much.

11:03 AM Aug 2nd by Fair Go For All

Perhaps the reason they harrass you at the door is because they are locked out of the hotel. Do you speak for these 50 long term workers or anyone else for that matter? Doubt it! This site is an example of there positive attitude toward the industry. Instead of getting into the age old argument of union v boss, why not talk about the great things at the hotel. I think this is actually what the forum is for. It's simple really.

6:53 AM Jul 31st by It's Simple

I am sick and tired of being harassed by these time wasters called union reps as I enter my work place. Why are there 50 employees here with 10 years plus service if our employer is perceived as taking advantage of us....Go away!!

10:10 PM Jul 30th by Go away

Hey richard,I think this is a great forum to talk about the goodand bad bits about the industry. Lets be a little more objective and talk about how to improve a great industry.

9:44 AM Jul 30th by Positive Promotion

Work a day in my shoes Richard and you will soon see how labour intensive my job is in the hotel and then you tell me if less than $15 an hour is good enough! You've stayed in this hotel before? So I guess you have paid the expensive room rate and was delivered the 5 star service, but did you ever ASK one of us if we were treated 5 star by our bosses or ever think about the amount of unpaid overtime we do so you can have a clean room and a nice meal? You pay for a comfortable 5 star experience and I deliver it yet I don't work in a comfortable 5 star back of house with proper equipment and I get paid nothing which pushes me beyond my means. You come and get a real job in a hotel Richard and we can swap stories after you settle in mate!

9:04 AM Jul 30th by Hard Working Hotel Employee

What dribble, are you seriously expecting people to believe this is union propaganda, I would suspect that the Mannagement were trying to protect the workers from spending their hard earned wages on a union that is only interested in politics and ensuring they have comfortable jobs for themselves. Australian workers are well looked afetr with great benefits in these type of places, most are unskilled and work very hard no doubt in very comfortable surrounds. I have stayed at this hotel and all this is, is Unions trying to feather their nests, get a real job! Unions were once relevant when kids were in coal mines - time to move into the 20th century guys

1:47 AM Jul 30th by Richard

workers are being more productive than ever before. They should be supported in the great work they do!

1:34 AM Jul 30th by It's simple

Many of our colleagues, with numerous years experience of working in 5 star hotels have left or are planning to leave the industry, that they love, with staff shortages and heavy workloads making it impossible for them to provide adequate service to the guests. During the recent boom and compounded with the shortage of hotel rooms in Brisbane, the average room rates were sky high. None of this monitary success was shared with the workers at the Hilton Brisbane, who were kept on the minimum federal award rates. While other businesses upped their wages to attract and retain the best, the Hilton Brisbane gave its loyal staff heavier workloads.

1:16 AM Jul 30th by Exhausted and Poor

I work very hard and I think it's only right that I get paid fairly for the job I do. There is not enough staff and I have to do the work of 3 people.

12:17 AM Jul 30th by Pay Rise

We are tired of cleaning up to 20 rooms a day. Has to stop!

11:48 PM Jul 29th by Tired of the hours

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