The unionists also demanded that some workers termed “casual staff”, who were excluded by the management from the payment, be treated equally as other staff.
Workers of Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, under the auspices of the National Union of Hotels, Personal Services Workers (NUHPSA) on Tuesday embarked on a peaceful protest over the non-payment of a severance package.
It was learnt that the aggrieved workers protested on the hotel premises to ensure Marriott International pay the money that they jointly agreed to be paid as a severance package in view of the new owner shutting down the place.
The general secretary of the Union, Leke Success told journalists that it would be unfair for the management to ask them to quit their jobs without paying them off.
“We just heard about a week ago that the new owner, NIPCO, who just acquired this place, decided that they will shut it down and commence renovations.
"Several efforts were made to persuade the management against shutting it down but were futile.
“So, we sat down as a responsible union to negotiate severance pay for our members, and the agreement stipulated that before the close of business on October 17, the money would be paid.
“But up until now, the management is still dilly-dallying, and very soon, they will lower the banner and shut this place,” he said.
The unionists also demanded that some workers termed “casual staff”, who were excluded by the management from the payment, be treated equally as other staff, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
“Whoever works here deserves to be paid because they are workers. No condition of employment will make them (casual workers) not to get their pay,” Mr Success said.
Meanwhile, a senior staff member of Sheraton told NAN that the corporate affairs unit of the hotel would soon release the response of the management in due course.
The new owners, NIPCO, which bought 51 per cent majority shares in Sheraton, had planned to shut down the hotel to carry out a holistic renovation and repositioning of the hotel.