“Super 8 was looking for changes that would give the hotel more flexibility to manage its operations;” Super 8 Moose Jaw management is responding to a request for comment.

Union representative Gary Whalen’s view was released on Saturday – read this article at the locked-out Super 8 workers; union claims toxic negotiations over management poisoning – MooseJawToday.com.

Moose Jaw Super 8 operations manager Peter Hong issued an emailed statement about the worker lockout that was put in place on March 3 after negotiations failed.

Hong said the hotel industry has suffered more than other business sectors over the past two years from the COVID-19 pandemic. He called the conflict between workers and hotel management the need for greater flexibility that could help management recover from the difficulties of the pandemic.

“The last two years of battling a global pandemic have been difficult for the economy as a whole, but some industries have been hit much harder than others. The hospitality industry has been particularly hard hit, with hotels and accommodation being the hardest hit.

Hong said Tourism Saskatchewan projections predict continued suffering for the hospitality industry and a full recovery before 2024 is unlikely.

He said one of the contributors to the difficulties felt by the industry is the widespread shift to online meetings, leading to lower revenue from conference room rentals.

Hong said “a number of hotels had to close” due to economic pressures resulting from the pandemic. He added that record industry occupancy rates have also affected Moose Jaw.

“The Moose Jaw Super 8 is no exception to the challenges arising from the pandemic. The occupancy rate has been and remains low and the recovery is taking place over a long period.

Unity here! Local 41, which represents workers at Super 8 Moose Jaw, said negotiations with management are not conducted in good faith.

The union said that management had started collective bargaining demanding nearly 60 deletions and/or changes to the employment contract. Many of the changes are unanimously unacceptable to the workers, including a five-year contract with no pay increase, hours at management’s sole discretion, employee workload at management’s sole discretion, and that management has a say in the appointment of local union spokespersons.

Local 41 President Gary Whalen said such proposals show management has no intention of negotiating in good faith.

Hong said that “during bargaining sessions between Unite Here Local 41 and the Super 8, the Super 8 was looking for changes that would give the hotel more flexibility to run its operations, with management and unionized workers working side-by-side. , as a team. , rather than creating a confrontational mentality in the workplace.

Whalen claimed a new manager, hired in May 2021, treated workers “like animals” and created a toxic work atmosphere. He said the manager, whose name has not been confirmed, had an outdated attitude towards employees and compared her to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.

“She has the same kind of attitude as Putin…is that he’s the powerful person and he can do whatever he wants.”

Hong accused Unite Here! Local 41 to be the cause of the breakdown of negotiations, as they were unwilling to consider management’s proposals.

Hong said the Super 8 was not seeking pay cuts – only workplace flexibility that would “ensure the Super 8 can emerge from the pandemic, weather the difficult recovery and respond to global changes in the way how we meet and interact. ”