MONTREAL (CBC) - Union organizers in Quebec say more hotels could be hit by strikes this week, after workers at a major Montreal hotel walked out on the job Saturday.

About 280 workers at the Hyatt Regency went on strike Saturday afternoon after contract talks broke down last month.

Negotiations are not moving forward, and workers had no choice but to strike, said Jean Lortie, a spokesman for the CSN Federation.

The decision to strike came despite two conciliation days scheduled for Monday and Tuesday.

Contract negotiations are stalled over workload, pension issues, and subcontracting. The union is also seeking salary increases, Lortie said.

The CSN says some employees have been harassed at the Hyatt during the labour dispute.

Donna Oduca, a housekeeper at the Hyatt, said work has been difficult since contract talks broke down last month. "We've been harassed by the management to do [our] rooms," she said. "There was security on each floor [who] watch us, and it's been very stressful."

The hotel company denied the accusations. "A serious corporation like Hyatt, established worldwide, would never go into these [types of] matters," said Hyatt spokesman Francois Morin.

Managers at the hotel are filling in for now but guests report a difference in service.

"They're not cleaning the rooms," said Dave Hampstead, a performer at the Just For Laughs Festival who stayed at the Hyatt last week.

"We've had our room cleaned once in five days. I told the guy to stop asking people, 'How was your stay?'"

Strike votes to be held this week

Lortie said more labour action will likely happen this week as employees in eight hotels across the province vote on whether to strike, including about 1,200 hotel employees in Quebec City.

In Longueuil, employees at the Holiday Inn were locked out last Thursday.

In Montreal, 22 workers at the Hôtel Quality and 88 Sheraton Four Points voted last week in favour of holding a 72-hour strike at an undetermined time.

Unionized workers at 12 other hotels across the province have already agreed to stage rotating strikes, which can take place at any time without advance warning.

More than 5,500 hotel workers are affiliated to the CSN Federation. Their collective agreement ran out March 31, 2008.

LIKE IT?  LET OTHERS KNOW