Stars face unmade beds as hotel staff strike

[Champ]

CANNES, France (Reuters) - Film stars staying at the ritzy Carlton hotel during the Cannes festival risk finding their beds unmade and mini-bars empty, after a third of its staff went on strike to protest over working conditions.



Around 100 employees stopped work at the beachfront Carlton, one of the jewels of the Riviera resort, forcing managers to don aprons themselves. Nonetheless, room service and catering were disrupted on Thursday.


"We are striking reluctantly, not to provoke anyone but because our working conditions and salaries are deplorable," said Ange Romiti, an official at the Communist-led CGT union.


Cannes has been plagued by labour protests this year.


Actors and technicians angry over welfare benefit cuts had threatened to torpedo the world's top film showcase but struck a last-minute deal with organisers which gives them a chance to air their grievances without disrupting events.

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