Hotel Metropole staff go on strike

Staff at the Hotel Metropole on De Brouckèreplein in central Brussels walked out on Wednesday in protest at the “tyrannical behaviour” of management, who they alleged have harassed housekeeping employee and union representative Luisa Da Motta.

According to hotel staff, since being elected as representative of the FGTB union, Da Motta, who has worked at the hotel for 20 years, has been subjected to increased work pressure and even harassment. At one point, according to FGTB, she was locked in a hotel room after complaining about the distribution of tips among housekeeping staff.

“There was indeed a mistake made in the distribution,” Gwenaël Odongui-Bonnard, general manager of the hotel, told Bruzz. “There was no discussion necessary; we admitted the mistake right away.” She dismissed claims that locking the door of the room was intimidation, as the union claimed.

In a communication sent to the hotel, the union demanded “respect and equal treatment” for all employees and the creation of a “constructive dialogue”. They also demanded a review of the percentage of tips to be shared by housekeeping and a retroactive payment.

Photo: Laurie Dieffembacq/BELGA