The closure of the luxury hotel due to the Covid-19 crisis shocked the staff. Employees are now appealing to the Geneva government.
The closure of the Richemond leaves approximately 130 employees on the floor.
KEYSTONE
Although considering the worst for several weeks, the staff of the Le Richemond hotel remains in shock since the management’s announcement to close the palace for an indefinite period because of the difficulties caused by the Covid-19 epidemic . He is appealing today to the Geneva government.
A letter was sent to State Councilor Mauro Poggia, said Friday the SIT union, which defends the interests of 5-star employees. Staff reiterate their request to negotiate a social plan. The closure of the Richemond leaves approximately 130 employees on the floor.
Management refusal
SIT specifies that management has so far refused to offer a social plan, to discuss for example a rehiring agreement valid when the palace reopens, or to plan a retirement plan for older employees, or even to pay a departure bonus.
The union now hopes that Richemond’s main shareholder, Malaysian billionaire Ananda Krishnan, will make a gesture in favor of the hotel staff, given his immense fortune. The businessman is also the owner of the Four seasons Hôtel des Bergues, another historic Geneva palace.
“Because the Richemond case is emblematic of our period”, we must prepare political responses to the situation of collective redundancies, “notes SIT. The letter addressed to Mauro Poggia asks to gather all the parties around a table in order to favor the conclusion of an agreement on a necessary social level.
(ATS / NXP)
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