Hi, I am Vania Arana
Speaker of the trade union Las Kellys - Catalunya
Las Kellys means "the ones who clean"
We want to make a booking system.
That's what we are trying to do. A booking system of Las Kellys.
It will include a seal for fair working conditions.
This seal for fair working conditions
was recognised in November 2018 by the Catalunyan parliament.
It was recognised in the plenary.
But due to a lack of political will
and the situation that we already know,
it did not make progress.
One can see that they don't really want to do it
and that's why we have taken the initiative.
To see if we can change this situation.
What are the working conditions like for women who clean hotel rooms?
I have been working for 20 years in this sector.
The only thing I've seen is a loss of workers' rights,
a loss of resting time,
a loss of balance between work and family life,
a loss of income, because we earn 40% less,
than a directly employed worker.
and this cannot be.
Because 65% of workers in the sector are sick.
65%, not 1% - more than half.
Before the pandemic we had miserable working conditions.
Especially those employed by subcontractors.
And we see now that everything is worse.
If you have an accident at work that is recognised as such,
they kick you out of the accident insurance,
the social security say it's none of their business
and they send you back to the accident insurance - that's what it's like.
You have to wait 3-4 years before they can operate you.
For a sore arm, an inflamed carpal tunnel,
disc problems - and this cannot be.
For us its unbareable.
The level of overworking is unbelievable.
It is more than someone can endure.
The only thing that society brings us is poverty.
Riches for the rich,
for the few.
And a lot of poverty for us, the poor.
Repression
If you openly say that you are part of the Las Kellys,
they punish you.
They separate you from the others.
If you have a permanent contract,
They will use all their means to get rid of you.
And we don't understand, because the only thing we want
is that all these employment regulations, that they supposedly comply with,
are actually complied with!
We were for example put under a lot of pressure,
by the board and other bodies,
because there was a break-in,
at our lawyer's.
And only things were taken that were related to our case.
In the house of a comrade who had filed a complaint,
they also tried to break in, only with a dog were they stopped.
They also threatened me.
And all of that in just one month.
Three people that are so connected, lawyers and Kellys,
that was no coincidence.
All this has made us think and try new things,
To be pioneers, to take the initiative,
to break the mould and keep going.
The booking platform Las Kellys
We must generate wealth.
We must generate happiness and peace.
In the end it's about trust and humanity.
We need to "clean up the world",
that's what we say in our campaign.
We need to bring about a new era of tourism,
With beauty and wellbeing for all.
That's what we are trying to do
with this booking system "Las Kellys".
The platform is currently called: "Yo reservo con Las Kellys"
"I reserve with Las Kellys"
We are trying to realise this with the crowdfunding sight goteo.
At the moment we have reached a fifth of our target.
We have a lot of hope that we will reach it,
our minimum goal is 60.000 Euro,
We want to prove that we can do it.
That we can work with dignity.
That we can achieve dignified work.
That we can help injured workers,
that are currently in this situation.
We want to prove that this is all possible,
when there is unity in the general society.
Only people save people.
Only a people can save a people.
and that is carved in our foreheads.
Are there already hotels that meet the criteria for "good work"?
At the moment there are some who are interested.
if it all develops well, we will meet with them
to discuss the working conditions, and what can be done
so that we can make the reservations for these hotels.
On the day that we can announce
that in one Hotel - one single Hotel
workers' rights are respected
this will be a day of celebration.
The idea is that it's like this in all Hotels.
And we hope that it will be like that.
Call
I would like to speak to all colleagues in Germany
that work under the same conditions.
that they don't lose hope, and continue fighting. 102 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:15,160 You always achieve a lot when you fight together,
and we must always keep that in mind.
And that they should not feel alone
because maybe in another country
there is a Kelly thinking about this worker,
that is going through the same thing as us.
We are with you.
Through a comrade
we heard about the Wombats hostel.
I don't know if I have pronounced it properly.
This struggle is wonderful.
It was amazing.
And we know what they have gone through,
because we go through the same.
It is a shame that the human being is not taken into account,
and this dignity which you have to give your work,
but just like you, there are many people fighting
for their survival.
And they should know,
that there is a comrade on their side.
I would also like to encourage everyone,
who wants to go on our goteo crowdfunder:
that you donate the little that you can!
Or as much as you can!
It is really important for us to realise this booking system,
Thank you very much, also for the interview!