Hotel workers in Indonesia need your support today

[Omaha Steve]

What do hotel workers in Indonesia, public sector workers in the UK, and all workers in the United States have in common? A lot, obviously. And they're all the subjects of this week's LabourStart mailing.

Please take a moment to respond to these important appeals.

INDONESIA: TELL SOL MELIA HOTEL TO RESPECT WORKERS RIGHTS

As trade unionists have long known, sometimes it's not enough to get a signed collective agreement with an employer. Sometimes, you've got to force to employer to implement what they've already agreed to.

That's the case in Indonesia, where a Spanish-owned hotel chain is targetting union members for dismissal, withholding money owed to the union from dues checkoff, and barring union representatives from the premises.

The IUF has launched a major online campaign to pressure the CEO of the Sol Melia hotel chain to respect workers rights. Please show your support by going here.

(Note that the English text follows the Spanish one on that page.)

UK: INNOVATIVE NEW CAMPAIGN IN SUPPORT OF PUBLIC SECTOR WORKERS

The public sector union UNISON is trying out an innovative new approach to campaigns using cutting-edge tools like Google Earth, YouTube and Flickr.

As low-paid public sector workers gear up for a major strike this week, the union is encouraging people from around the world to send in messages of support (including photos and videos) using an online form, or by text or even voicemail. Details are here.

USA: A FRESH LOOK AT ANTI-UNION CULTURE

Should workers join unions? For trade union activists, that's a no-brainer. In the US, unionized workers get higher pay, are more likely to have health insurance and better pensions.

So why do four out of ten workers say they won't vote for a union in their workplace given the chance?

Lawrence Richards addresses this question in the new book "Union-Free America: Workers and Antiunion Culture." Read more and order copies for yourself and your union here.

Remember that every book you purchase benefits LabourStart directly and helps support our campaigning activities.

Eric Lee