India: Taj Hotel workers secure wages, job security for 2 year renovation closure

The union at the Taj Connemara resort in Tamil Nadu, which is affiliated to the Hotel Employees Federation of India (HEFOI), succeeded in negotiating a job security agreement for the duration of the temporary closure of the resort for renovation.

Under the agreement, union members are assigned to other roles at the hotel during renovation or are voluntarily transferred to other Taj hotels in southern India. The transferred workers will return when the resort reopens. Seniority and all wages and benefits will be maintained during the two year renovation period.

The agreement is a breakthrough in the Indian hospitality industry, where most renovation closures involve layoffs and early retirement. The union expressed its thanks to HEFOI, an IUF affiliate, for assisting them in securing the agreement.