MONTEGO BAY, St James — Unimpressed with promises of two free cars and the continuation of existing perks, employees of Secrets and Breathless resorts in Montego Bay are awaiting word, from talks expected to continue today at 10:00 am, on whether their demands for better wages will be met.

“If it doesn’t make any sense we will come out here and stand up again because we definitely need that raise of pay. We need a better work environment,” the food and beverage department’s Alvin Brown told the Jamaica Observer Tuesday afternoon.

“[A base rate of] US$2 is a little over $300; how much is a loaf of bread? You can’t buy a loaf of bread with that and if you can’t buy a loaf of bread with that, why work?” he insisted.

Brown, who was among employees who were in a meeting with the labour ministry earlier in the day, said it had been a good meeting but hotel staff are waiting to see what comes next and they cannot guarantee that normality will be restored.

“Tomorrow morning we will see how far we are going to take this because the main focus is we need that raise of pay. Without that raise of pay it makes no sense,” he insisted Tuesday.

Resort manager for both properties, Daniele Galligani, is hoping he will have good news for tomorrow’s follow-up meeting.

“As you know, I want to take care of my colleagues. That’s my priority all the time,” he told disgruntled workers.

He assured them that the executive team is listening to their concerns.

“Some points which are very critical, we will be back to you tomorrow, [within] 24 hours regarding the pay, the salary, the bonus, and so on,” he said. “Some other concerns, I think we can fix right away internally. We will do our best to fix this but by tomorrow we’re going to give you the right answer regarding the salary, the bonus, and so on,” he added.

Earlier in the day, there were reports that staff would continue to receive two days off per week, their Christmas bonus, free laundry service and management would give away two cars this year.

But one member of the spa team who only gave her name as Marsha was adamant that staff will not accept anything less than a pay hike. She, too, was in the talks on Tuesday.

“Some resolution have to happen because we already tell them straight up that it [the strike] will happen again if they don’t do what they need to do,” she said.

“I’m sure they don’t want this tomorrow because all of them up there running up and down like chickens without heads because they don’t know how dinner going for the guests tonight,” Marsha added.

From early Tuesday, placard-waving workers gathered at the Freeport roundabout chanting, “No money, no work!” as they urged the tourism and labour ministries to intervene. They also explored the option of being unionised, and listened keenly to information presented by National Workers’ Union (NWU) Assistant Island Supervisor Alvin Nicholson.

The 2:00 pm to 11:00 pm shift joined the protest and remained outside the hotel gates calling for better treatment.

“Most departments have different issues but one common issue in general is more money — and transparency and better treatment of the staff,” Marsha highlighted.

Management remained tight-lipped about how the protest affected operations, but according to Observer sources, some employees remained on the job and guests were not left to totally fend for themselves as was the case during the late-October strike at Royalton Negril.

As he was during the Royalton strike, Senior Advisor and Strategist in the Ministry of Tourism Delano Seiveright was on the ground on Tuesday. He told the Observer that improved communication is needed to address some of the issues staff raised.

“Clearly, there are some misunderstandings. There is also some miscommunication and clearly there is a need for stronger communication between the management and the staff,” he remarked.

He agreed with Labour Minister Pearnel Charles Jr’s comment, in a press release Tuesday afternoon, that it is important to have a peaceful industrial relations climate for all stakeholders, and for employers to have internal measures in place for workers’ concerns to be addressed.

“As it relates to some of the grievances highlighted, they are going to systematically work on them to address them and they have been working on some of them but they need to speed up that effort,” Seiveright stressed.

He appeared surprised by the strike, based on his assessment of the Secrets brand. It and Breathless are part of the Hyatt group.

“I know Secrets to be one of the best-run resorts in all of Jamaica and the Caribbean, so it has a very prestigious reputation,” said Seiveright.

For Opposition spokesperson on tourism, Senator Janice Allen, a second protest at a major resort in under two weeks is concerning.

“I would say that something is definitely curious. If nothing else, it is curious because the issues seem to be consistent,” she said to the Observer.

She is hopeful that the matter can be resolved swiftly and amicably.

“The issues are fundamental and at the end of the day, the workers are who make up the industry and we have to hear what they are saying; the hotel management has to hear what they are saying, the ministry of labour has to hear what they are saying because it is a vital industry and it is a vital industry that continues to benefit the country,” she said.

It remains to be seen if the workers will pursue their initial effort to become unionised to protect their interest going forward.

“We want a union to represent us because with our voice alone it doesn’t make any sense. So when we have a union to represent us, I think they will acknowledge us better; they will deal with us better because the union is there for us,” housekeeping supervisor Melissa said.

The NWU’s Nicholson said they would be happy to oblige. He warned of more industrial action to come in the tourism sector.

“This is what is happening all over and I can tell you that by next week, another hotel you are going to have to come there,” he told the Observer.

“All over, we are having this and if you listen to the people, it is the same cry: overworked, underpaid and disrespected,” he added.