Sheraton Kuala Lumpur Faces Backlash Over Worker Dispute

In a recent video shared by @adameji7 that has been circulating on TikTok, unhappy workers from a 5-star hotel were seen holding picket signs as they protested against the hotel. The protest, held outside the Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur on December 10, featured staff expressing frustration over stagnant salaries and alleged unpaid wages.

The video highlighted workers demanding a salary increase. One picket sign pointed out that some employees had served the hotel for over 10 years without receiving a single pay raise. Another sign labeled the hotel as “traitors,” demanding immediate action to address the grievances of its workers.

Amidst this unrest, Rusli Affandi, Secretary General of the National Union of Hotel, Bar & Restaurant Workers, Peninsula Malaysia, accused the Sheraton Imperial of violating a Collective Agreement (CA) with the union.

Dispute Over Collective Agreement

According to Rusli, Sheraton Imperial is owned by Inter Heritage (M) Sdn Bhd and managed by Marriott International. The hotel has a Collective Agreement with the union representing its employees.

“In early 2022, the union was told that Inter Heritage would sell Sheraton to Aci Jaya Plantation Sdn Bhd, and members would be compensated,” Rusli told Jobstore.

“We were told the takeover would happen on June 1, 2022, and there would be a town hall to inform employees about the change. However, the union was not invited to the town hall.”

Rusli revealed that the union later learned compensation payments were ordered by Aci Jaya.

“Inter Heritage and Aci Jaya forgot that they had a Collective Agreement with the union. They made payments without verifying the agreement, which is still in effect,” he added.

The union requested Aci Jaya to honor the agreement starting June 1, 2014, instead of the proposed June 1, 2022.

“After we sent a letter, Aci Jaya agreed with us that the Collective Agreement would begin in 2014,” Rusli stated.

Retirement Benefits Dispute

The dispute intensified over retirement benefits. “Aci Jaya wanted to pay benefits starting from June 1, 2022. We disagreed because the Collective Agreement clearly states that benefits should be calculated from the members’ original employment dates,” Rusli said.

The Collective Agreement outlines specific rules. “It states that while waiting for a new agreement or court award, neither party can alter, modify, or add to any of the terms without mutual consent,” Rusli explained.

“Yet, they failed to follow the agreement when they took over in 2022.”

“Regarding retirement benefits, we still demand that they be calculated from the date our members started working, and that is the reason for our current picket.”

Protests and Police Monitoring

The union initially scheduled the picket for November 28 but postponed it to December 9 to allow more time for discussions.

“Despite giving them two weeks, the hotel management did not invite the union to discuss the matter,“ Rusli said.

On December 5, the union received an email about a planned meeting on December 9, but the same day, the hotel held a town hall.

Rusli alleged that the town hall was used to spread misinformation.

“They accused the union of refusing to sign agreements and justified their actions without consulting us,“ Rusli said.

“When we began the picket on the 9th, 10 to 12 officers from the special branch arrived to monitor and observe the protest. They asked us what the solution was.”

Rusli stated that negotiations before the protest were halted because the union objected to the presence of a hotel manager accused of slandering the union.

“We were ready to talk if the manager left the meeting room,“ Rusli said. “But the employer refused, so we walked out and continued the picket.”

Negotiations between the union and hotel management are scheduled for December 19, with the union remaining firm in its demands. “The Collective Agreement recognizes the union as the exclusive principal negotiator for workers. We will not accept any terms that go against this agreement or ignore our members’ rights,“ Rusli concluded.

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Anisa Aznan is a Jobstore Content Writer specializing in human resources news and resources. With a keen eye for industry trends and workplace dynamics, she provides insightful coverage on labor issues, employment policies, and HR best practices. Anisa’s expertise allows her to break down complex HR matters and present them in a clear and engaging way for both professionals and the general public.

Contact: anisa@jobstore.com