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Our friend and
fellow unionist, Cándido Méndez, general secretary of the General Workers’
Confederation (UGT), honored us with his presence at the meeting of the
IUF’s World Committee of Hotel, Tourism, Restaurant and Catering Workers,
delivering a speech at the public opening ceremony. In a pleasant and very
easygoing manner, he discussed the labor challenges faced by workers in such
a highly globalized industry as is the tourism sector, where inequalities
are so widespread.
“I must
tell you that this immensely important agenda you will be addressing through
your unions -Cándido began- is similar to the agendas of all unions
and of practically every sector. Naturally, in your case, you must address
that agenda in a sector that is highly dynamic worldwide, a sector that is
very significant socially, economically and in terms of employment, and, in
addition, as our dear fellow unionists Ron (Oswald) and
Norberto (Latorre) have pointed out, we are talking about a
sector that is expanding globally,” he said.
“I think
that on an international level we must aim to work firmly for this sector to
provide an opportunity for the development of those peoples that are
suffering the greatest inequalities, who are living under the worst
conditions of poverty, and who are being denied their labor rights” –he
continued.
“In this
sense, figures indicate that there will be an important increase -although
still inadequate- in tourism in the most deprived continent on earth:
Africa.
And
therefore, we need to connect labor goals with individual rights, collective
rights, freedom, democracy, and the exercise of the right to strike and the
right to collective bargaining; the expansion of the tourism sector must be
an essential priority for this powerful international trade union
organization,” the general secretary of the UGT highlighted}
He stressed
that “We mustn’t lose sight of the fact that unionism cannot be confined to
a single country, because of the thrust of economic globalization. It must
be interpreted in global terms. And I think you play a key role in this
sense.”
“For us, in
Spain and in Europe -Cándido said-, tourism is of capital
importance. And in this sector we must fight to achieve the equality of
women and men. Here in Spain we are witnessing the emergence of a new
reality for the working class. The presence of migrant workers in this
sector is very evident. Diversity is a characteristic of the new global
workforce.”
Cándido
described a process currently underway whereby construction workers are
seeking economic insertion in the hotel and restaurant industry. When
Spain experienced a construction boom, many hotel and restaurant workers
went to work in construction. They did so “because construction offered
better pay and less severe working conditions, even when it meant working
outdoors. Now a reverse movement is taking place. For all these reasons,
when we speak of tourism, we are talking about a key sector that affects our
current and future development,” he pointed out.
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The splendor of
luxury hotels and
the splendor of
luxury restaurants cannot rest on the hardship and
terrible working conditions
of millions of workers |
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The UGT
leader undertook to “fight for decent wages and good working conditions in the
hotel and restaurant and tourism sectors. Wages are clearly inadequate and must
be raised, and the quality of the employment generated by this activity must be
improved. And we will address these challenges throughout Europe” -he
stated. “Last Saturday we held a mobilization in the capital of Slovenia,
with the participation of unions from around Europe. Over 35 thousand people
gathered to demand wage raises for workers of every sector in Europe. As
alarms start to go off again and conservative speeches from the past resurface,
they’d like us to believe that the problems of economic adjustment must be
endured by workers in their wages,” he denounced.
In his opinion,
“Inflation and other world economy problems have nothing to do with salaries,
which in Europe, over the last few years, have lost purchasing power.
These problems have to do with the strong speculations in world food markets,
due to the rise in the prices of basic raw materials and oil and gas –he
declared. Also, because a greater number of people in China and India can now
eat twice a day, and aspire to eat three times a day. Therefore, none of this
has anything to do with wages. It does, however, have to do with politics –Cándido
stressed. We are going to demand a raise in salaries and also a change in
globalization policies. Globalization cannot be achieved at the expense of labor
rights, freedom and social justice. It has to be a vehicle for the improvement
of salaries, rights and jobs and for the enhancement of the quality of life of
the working class worldwide.”
In Cándido’s
opinion, “World political leaders are greatly responsible for the current
situation. There is a crisis affecting world economy. But that crisis has to do
with garbage mortgages, and it originated in the United States, in the
speculative economy promoted by Mr. Bush and the former president of the
federal reserve, Greenspan,”
he said, clearly identifying responsibilities.
Lastly, he
stressed that “The splendor of luxury hotels and the splendor of luxury
restaurants cannot be sustained by the hardship and terrible working conditions
of millions of workers. The splendor of luxury hotels and the splendor of luxury
restaurants must be matched by decent economic and working conditions for all
workers, who are a key part of this activity’s development. The IUF plays
an essential role in this, and I know you will succeed,” he concluded.
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