THE THIEF OF BAD GAGS
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costa del sol hotel strikeCosta hotel staff plan summer walk out
Holidaymmakers heading to the Costa del Sol this summer were last night warned they face chaos as 15,000 hotel workers announced a strike.
Two unions representing chambermaids, cleaners, receptionists and other staff said they will walk out for 14 days during June, July and August.
The decision raises the prospect of the region's 800 hotels and apartment blocks being forced to shut.
The UGT and CCOO unions want pay rises of 30 Euros (£20) a month for their members.
Jose Antonio Sedano, tourism secretary of the UGT, said: 'The strikes will lead to most of the hotels being forced to close.
'This will undoubtedly cause a massive disruption to many people's holidays but our job is to represent the interests of our members.'
But Jose Prieto, president of the Costa del Sol Hospitality Business Association, hit back.
He said: 'Their tactic is to pressure, to demand something, and when they get it, demand something else, until they don't get it, and then they threaten to strike.'
The strikes are scheduled for June 22-25, July 20-23 and August 1-6.
Britons account for around a third of the 8million visitors a year to the Costa del Sol, which includes the resorts of Marbella, Fuengirola and Torremolinos.
Sean Tipton, of the Association of British Travel Agents, warned: 'A summer strike would be a very, very short-sighted thing that could seriously damage tourism in the area.'
But he added: 'If it does go ahead our members will have contingency plans in place to make sure everyone is offered alternative accommodation.'
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