Matthew Rodney
Hotel Activist
Matthew Rodney, Hotel Activist
Back in June, Matthew Rodney made waves in the hospitality industry after posting a video of his alleged unfair dismissal online. It was an echo that was felt all over Jamaica at a time when conditions for hospitality workers are so poor, despite it being one of the largest sources of income for the country. Here, Matthew talks about simmering frustrations both inside and out of the industry, as well as his initiative, Make a Change.
Have you always been interested in social justice?
I’ve always worked in hospitality. I have a passion for customer service and meeting new people. But from the very first resort I worked in there were a lot of frustrations.
Back then I was talking to my co-workers, and I said “Hey, how can we go on strike?” Even in my small circle I was trying to work out how I could make my voice heard. You know, try to inform people on social issues. I’m always happy to be an activist, but it doesn’t pay.
Can you tell us more about these frustrations?
A lot of bad treatment: low pay; no benefit; no pension; no overtime. No tips. If I accepted tips, they would fire me. Everywhere has three-month contracts so there’s no stability and hundreds of other unemployed people are after your position. We’re trapped because if we strike or join a union, that’s it.
If you work at a resort, you can’t even get a loan for a car. It’s the largest source of income for the country, yet we are poor while working in it. It’s a broken system.
Is this something that other people talk about?
Lots of people are talking about the bad treatment, but they do nothing. Most people in Jamaica are going through the same. That’s why it blew up.
Can you tell us about the dismissal?
The person who ran the hotel had a bad reputation in the hotel sector, but I hadn’t done my research. Even their HR person had resigned. I worked as bartender and was serving drinks to two American ladies, and he accused me of flirting. He was like, “You don’t belong here. Go work at another resort, just leave.”
I was shocked as I didn’t do anything wrong, which is why I recorded him at the time when he was firing me. I later put my recording up on social media and called him out. This got a lot of attention from the local media and thousands of people got in touch to say they’ve been through the same thing. People said they’ve experienced racism and were treated unfairly in the hotel industry.
And then you started Make a Change?
When I put the video online a lot of people started saying, “We need a change.” I felt I’ve got to do something about it, so, I organised a peaceful protest, in July, calling out the hotel industry’s unpaid overtime, racism, classism, sexual harassment, unfair conditions, poor pay, and lack of benefits.
I would like hotel workers to come together and form a union, so that no one else has to go through the same experience just to get their voice heard.
What’s next for you?
I’m now focusing on myself. Going back to school to learn massage therapy, which I hope will bring me new opportunities.
But my goal is to leave Jamaica to get out there and get my voice heard internationally and Make a Change from there. If more Jamaicans like me decide to leave and there’s no one left, the government will have to do something about it.
Interview by: Katy Pryer
