Noor Javed: Workers Protest ‘Fake’ Green Initiative at Toronto Hotels

Summary: Workers protest ‘fake’ green initiative at Toronto hotels by Noor Javed (2010)
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Summary: Workers protest ‘fake’ green initiative at Toronto hotels by Noor Javed (2010)
In Noor Javed’s (2010) article Worker protest ‘fake’ green initiative at Toronto hotels, he presents a case of hotel employees complaining that the newly introduced green initiative of having guests opting out the cleaning services in their rooms has little to do with the conservation of the environment. Dubbed as the “Green Stay” program at the Delta East and Delta Chelsea hotels and the “Make Green Choice” program at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, hotel workers observe that this initiative only aims at reducing the number of cleaners at the hotels. If guests will not require the services of cleaners, then the number of workers in the cleaning department will ultimately be reduced. In this initiative, participating guests give up the cleaning services for a $5 voucher that can be redeemed for foods and drinks. While the intended outcomes of the program seemed like a ‘win-win’ scenario benefiting both the hotel and guests, the rooms get stuffy and uncomfortable to stay. In addition, if rooms are not cleaned for daily, it will demand more hours of cleaning and additional chemicals and deterg...