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)