Exposed: Jamaican All-Inclusive Resort Worker Reality Revealed by Union Leader, Ex-Butler скачать в хорошем качестве

Exposed: Jamaican All-Inclusive Resort Worker Reality Revealed by Union Leader, Ex-Butler

All-inclusive resorts in Jamaica promise paradise for the vacationer. Behind the gates, however, many resort and hospitality workers say they are struggling with low wages, unstable contracts, and limited protections. The staff strikes across 8 resorts in late 2024, reported widely in local and international news, were a sign of the growing discontent. --In this episode, I speak with Michael Downer, a former resort butler turned union leader, about what it’s really like to work inside Jamaica’s resort system — from earning just a few dollars an hour, to the hotel worker strikes protests in 2024, and the fight to organize for better conditions. --He shares why he founded and is leading the newly established National Hospitality Workers Union (NHWU), what its goals are and how you, too, can help as a tourist or Jamaican in the diaspora. --This conversation focuses on labor equity and structural issues within the tourism model. It is not about any single resort brand, but about improving a system in which thousands of Jamaicans work. Statements regarding wages, employment conditions and opinions reflect the guest’s lived experience and perspective. Let’s keep the discussion solution-oriented. . New? Hi 👋🏽 I'm Lily - Award-winning travel journalist and sustainable tourism comms strategist based in the US and with years of global reporting under my belt, helping you plan your trips consciously through cultural immersion, honest insights on travel/tourism, and responsible storytelling. . 0:00 Intro 0:26 From Butler to Union Leader: +10 years in Tourism 1:10 How an Ex-Butler Entered the Hospitality Industry 2:08 Michael’s Shifts + Pay at Sandals Resorts 4:38 "Hand to Chest" + Hypocrisy of "Tip-Free" Resorts 7:03 "Plantation Tourism": $2-$4/hour 7:18 The Tipping Incident That Became a Turning Point for Michael 9:01 The 2024 Worker Strikes at 8 Major All-Inclusive Brands in Jamaica 10:29 Blacklisted for Speaking Out 10:44 What Motivated Michael to Start the Union 12:00 3,000+ Resort Workers Out of Job Post-Melissa 13:01 Authentic Tourism vs. All-Inclusive: Watering down Jamaican culture 14:09 Local outreach, Team at National Hospitality Workers Union (NHWU) 15:02 Jamaica vs. Barbados: Resort Wage Disparity in the Caribbean 15:50 Good tourism in Jamaica 16:45 Post-Melissa: The reality of resort workers 18:16 Contract Work "on Steroids" and Outdated Laws (1975 Labor Act) 21:00 Workplace Manipulation, Risk + Mental Impact 22:00 The Housing Crisis 24:34 Challenging the "Better than Nothing" Local Mentality 25:29 Top 3 Demands of NHWU 26:38 It's Hard to Convince Some Jamaicans of This One Thing 27:45 Labor Force in Tourism: Equity 29:04 Lack of Safety Net in Jamaica: No Contingency Plan for External Shocks 29:49 People Working in $4billion Industry are Hungry 30:27 Call to Action: How Tourists and the Diaspora Can Help 33:32 Final Message . To CONNECT with Michael Downer directly and support the National Hospitality Workers Union (NHWU): Email: nhwua1@gmail.com Instagram:   / nhwu_3333   Facebook:   / micheal.downer   Ochi Tours: 1-876-528-1873 Sign petition: https://www.change.org/p/ensure-justi... ___ SOURCES referenced in this episode: Tourism Fallout: Case of Bahia Principe Workers | CVM Television Jamaica:    • Tourism Fallout: Case of Bahia Principe Wo...   Tourism workers gathered at Sangster International Airport Monday to protest wages and working conditions in the sector (with Michael Downer) | CVM: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=118... Addressing the Challenges Faced by Hotel Workers in Jamaica | South Florida Caribbean News: https://sflcn.com/addressing-the-chal... Jamaica Information Service: 2024 Tourism Revenue: https://jis.gov.jm/jamaica-earns-us4-... Hotel Strikes Rock Jamaica's Tourism Industry - PAX News: https://www.paxnews.com/news/tourism-... Hand to Mouth - Hotel Workers Protest (2024) - TVJamaica News    • 'Hand to Mouth' - Hotel Workers Protest #B...   Beyond the Hotel Strikes - Jamaica Gleaner (Dec 2024) https://past.jamaica-gleaner.com/arti... BITU Raises Alarm as Hyatt Extends Closure to Late 2026 https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/n... . WATCH NEXT Should You Travel to Jamaica Now? Locals Say Yes:    • Should You Travel to Jamaica Now? Locals S...  . 👉🏾Stay up to date with my free newsletter: https://tourismlens.kit.com 🌎 Support my work and independent reporting & get perks:    / @tourismlens   . Thanks for watching! Remember to hit subscribe button (free)–it helps me grow this channel and create more content for you all –leave a comment and share 🌎🇧🇿✈️