Pacific / French Polynesia

French Polynesia strike over hotel sacking may spread

11:48 am on 22 November 2019

A strike in French Polynesia over the sacking of four employees of a luxury hotel may spread.

Intercontinental Hotel Moorea. Photo: moorea.intercontinental.com/gallery

The O Oe To Oe Rima union launched a fresh strike two days ago in a bid to force the Intercontinental Hotel Moorea to reinstate the four men.

One of the union leaders said there had been talks with other unions about the possibility of calling a general strike, which would hit the port and the airport.

The leader said the situation was unacceptable.

The four were dismissed after a female employee reported they had raped her months earlier.

A police investigation has since failed to establish any wrongdoing and the case has been closed.

However, the hotel is refusing to re-employ them, saying they were sacked because of sexual harassment.

The strike coincides with the hotel due to host the contestants of the next Miss France competition.

The strike coincides with the hotel due to host the contestants of the next Miss France competition. Photo: Présidence de la Polynésie française