From Youtube.com/@tourismlens
In Jamaica, all-inclusive resorts promise paradise for the vacationer. But behind the gates, all-inclusive resort workers say they are struggling with low wages, unstable contracts, and limited protections. In this episode, I speak with Michael Downer, former resort butler turned union leader, about what it’s really like to work inside Jamaica’s resort system — from earning just a few dollars an hour, to the hotel worker strikes protests in 2024, and the fight to organize for better conditions. –Michael shares why he founded and is now leading the newly established National Hospitality Workers Union (NHWU), what triggered the switch for him –The pay levels and working conditions Michael witnessed –The staff strikes across 8 resorts in late 2024, reported widely in local and international news –What the union’s goals are and how you, too, can help as a tourist or Jamaican in the diaspora –This conversation focuses on labor equity and structural issues within the tourism model. It is not about any single resort brand, but about improving a system in which thousands of Jamaicans work. Statements regarding wages, employment conditions and opinions reflect the guest’s lived experience and perspective. Let’s keep the discussion solution-oriented.
I’m Lily – Award-winning travel journalist and sustainable tourism comms strategist based in the US and with years of global reporting under my belt, helping you plan your trips consciously through cultural immersion, honest insights on travel/tourism, and responsible storytelling. .
Video Courtesy: Youtube.com/@tourismlens
