Phuket hotel strike hits tourists

Post by **buksida** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 1:06 pm

Workers at Phuket hotels have ended a three-day strike that blocked roads and shut six hotels, again disrupting holidays for hundreds of foreign tourists.

The strikers blocked all roads to the sprawling resort complex of the Laguna Group after the hotel cut employee bonuses and ruled out a wage increase this year, according to reports in the Phuket Gazette.

Tourists staying at the Laguna complex were moved to other hotels on the island, which has seen a sharp drop in visitors since the seizure of Bangkok's main airports late last year.

"The hotel did not negotiate. They told the protesters they cannot increase wages this year because they will struggle with losses," Phuket police officer Pharidon Ghaniama told the newspaper.

The company had no official comment on the strike, but hotel staff said four of the six Laguna hotels remained closed on Sunday.

Thailand may see its lowest number of tourist arrivals in four years in 2009 after anti-government protesters blockaded Bangkok's airports and stranded thousands of holidaymakers.

Tourism directly employs 1.8 million people and contributes an estimated six per cent of gross domestic product (GDP).

Source: Bangkok Post

Thoughts: Another kick in the pants for tourists that decided to come to Thailand despite all the mess and another whole bunch of them that won't be back. Any thoughts on similar things happening in Hua Hin?

Spitfire · Post by **Spitfire** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 1:22 pm

Blocking/closing down government/tourist related things or areas seems to be becoming a frequent tactic for any group that has a grievance. Thailand's population seems a lot more ready to strike/protest about stuff in the last year or two than I can ever remember before.

Shows just how 'ill-at-ease' they are on many issues, hardly the united society they love to 'show off'.

Things are really starting to bite now, more unrest could easily be on the way. The new PM certainly has his 'plate full'.

Hmmmmmmm. We'll see.

Post by **Stu-Pot** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 1:43 pm

These guys should be pleased to be keeping thier jobs, not striking over bonuses & wage increases. Most likely strong Union ties at htese properties

Soon enough, the hotels etc will start lowering the manning levels due to the lack of tourist numbers. Watch the S..t hit the fan then!

Only in the coming weeks & months , will the true results of the airport closure & general economy be felt. All business will have to watch expences. Giving pay rises does not make business sense at this time.

Post by **Khundon1975** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 4:54 pm

Stu-Pot wrote:These guys should be pleased to be keeping thier jobs, not striking over bonuses & wage increases. Most likely strong Union ties at htese properties

Soon enough, the hotels etc will start lowering the manning levels due to the lack of tourist numbers. Watch the S..t hit the fan then!

Only in the coming weeks & months , will the true results of the airport closure & general economy be felt. All business will have to watch expences. Giving pay rises does not make business sense at this time.

Hi Stu-Pot

It would make sense if your guests cannot get to the hotel !

However, I fear you are correct about the economy in Thailand and this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Post by **sandman67** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 6:33 pm

This may sound like another farang swipe at Thais but this is the truth:

Offer a Thai employee one months work at 10000bht a week, or 12 months guaranteed work at 7500bht per week

they ALWAYS take the quick money...Jam today and no jam tomorrow.

no strategic view, no forethought, no forward planning.....

this will be written up in the Thai press as "local poor working class heroes stand up to and beat greedy farang owners.....brave Thais beat the farangs...blah blah blah"

the fact they will all be out of work and the hotel closed within 6 months will, of course, go unreported.

Post by **Rider** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 7:22 pm

Indeed, and also the fact that the hotel industry has been over-chasing the tourist money by building and building, chasing the never-never.
It doesn't seem to of occured to them that tourism is not a linear curve that keeps on climbing on and on!

Post by **Khundon1975** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 8:14 pm

sandman67 wrote:This may sound like another farang swipe at Thais but this is the truth:

Offer a Thai employee one months work at 10000bht a week, or 12 months guaranteed work at 7500bht per week

they ALWAYS take the quick money...Jam today and no jam tomorrow.

no strategic view, no forethought, no forward planning.....

this will be written up in the Thai press as "local poor working class heroes stand up to and beat greedy farang owners.....brave Thais beat the farangs...blah blah blah"

the fact they will all be out of work and the hotel closed within 6 months will, of course, go unreported.

SM67 You are spot on with your post.

In 2001 -2004 we had 2 "maids" working for us on Baht 6500 a month each.
My wife and I told them if they each put away Bht1000 a month for a year we would match the 12000 they had saved and give them Bht 12000 each but that this would only apply if they saved for the full 12 months.

One came to us after 10 months to take out her savings and the other after 11 months.
When we told them they would get nothing from us for not saving the full amount they just shrugged.
I saved myself 24k and learnt a lesson about the Thai mentality.