Shangri-La staff set to work

Shangri-La staff set to work

JAKARTA (JP): Over 900 Shangri-La Hotel staff and management
held a party on Thursday evening to celebrate the hotel's return
to business, which has been set for Saturday.

The hotel's marketing director Sherryn Bates said all the
employees were excited to resume business after three months of
closure.

"Everyone if one thousand percent ready to welcome all guests
back," Bates said in a statement.

In a strong sign of support for the re-opening, guests have
already booked rooms and corporate clients have planned major
functions in the upcoming weeks, the statement said.

The hotel has been temporarily closed since Dec. 22 last year
following a strike by some 500 workers, mostly food and beverage
staff. New people have been recruited in place of the striking
employees and given extensive training.

Despite the threat to set up a picket line issued by the
striking workers grouped under the Shangri-La Independent Workers
Union (SPMS), Bates said all the hotel's doors will definitely be
open on Saturday.

Negotiations to settle the labor dispute brokered by the
Jakarta's Ministry of Transmigration and Manpower office is
underway. (jun)