Erica Barnett writes in "Making Travel More Ethical" at WorldChanging about hotel workers. First among her list of little-know-facts is this disturbing statistic about how being a hotel worker can actually be a path into becoming disabled:
Housekeepers in the hospitality industry report pervasive problems with job-related pain. In surveys compiled by Unite Here's Hotel Workers Rising campaign, which organizes and works on behalf of hospitality workers in the United States, more than 75 percent of workers report work-related pain; more than 80 percent report pressure to complete their work quickly; more than two-thirds report taking pain medication regularly; and nearly three-quarters report chemical irritation from exposure to cleaning supplies.
She continues:
Those are some alarming statistics. Fortunately, there are some innovative, accessible resources available to travelers that both provide information to people who stay in hotels and put pressure on hotel companies to improve pay and working conditions for those at the bottom of the travel food chain. Two I particularly like are Hotel Workers Rising's union hotel guide and The Jewish Funds for Justice's Ethical Travel Campaign.
For the entire article see:
http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/007694.html
Posted by rollingrains at December 18, 2007 12:45 PM