With a career spanning over three decades in Catalonia, a prominent union leader for hotel housekeepers, originally from Peru, highlights the need to organize to prevent others from deciding for them. This philosophy is reflected in the motto of Las Kellys, the union she presides over, which brings together women dedicated to hotel cleaning.
Her arrival in Barcelona, shortly after the Olympic Games, was a reality shock, as she could not validate her language and literature studies. The only available job options were cleaning homes and caring for the elderly or children, a path that led her to harsh and discouraging experiences.
“"Society has always seen the cleaning woman as a mop, someone without culture. And I am clear that not everyone is suited for this job."
After years of precariousness and the fear of administrative irregularity, she obtained the necessary documentation and found work in hotels. There, she discovered the harshness of the profession, which demands constant attention to detail and an intense work pace, often in unpleasant conditions, such as rooms with vomit or blood.
The union Las Kellys was born out of exhaustion and the need to share common experiences of precariousness, such as the inability to leave on time after the workday ended. The name, a play on words meaning "those who clean," seeks to dignify a job often made invisible. Their main achievement has been the recognition of their existence and awareness of their labor rights, a lesson she learned from her Spanish colleagues.
The union leader calls on hotel entrepreneurs in Catalonia to be aware of their work and to avoid subcontracting, which often implies less favorable labor agreements. To customers, she asks for respect, as without it there is no dignity. Finally, she conveys to her children the importance of being free and not letting themselves be judged, while being aware that advocating for rights can have consequences.
