Union Leadership Style and Hotel Management in Selected First-Class Hotels Metro Manila: Basis for Strategic Enhancement Plan

Abstract

Effective labor-management relations are essential for maintaining organizational stability, employee engagement, and service quality in the hospitality industry. This study examined the relationship between union leadership style and hotel management practices in selected first-class hotels in Metro Manila as the basis for a Strategic Enhancement Plan. Specifically, it assessed union leadership style in terms of communication, decision-making, conflict resolution, inclusiveness and participation, transparency, professional development, employee welfare advocacy, and negotiation, as well as hotel management practices involving policy implementation, labor-management collaboration, grievance handling, collective bargaining support, and employee welfare programs. A quantitative descriptive research design was employed involving 135 respondents, consisting of labor union officers, hotel employees, and human resource managers selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using a validated researcher-made questionnaire and analyzed through frequency and percentage distribution, weighted mean, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient. The findings revealed that both union leadership style and hotel management practices were generally perceived as evident across the participating hotels. Communication, transparency, employee participation, policy implementation, and grievance handling received favorable assessments, reflecting positive labor-management interactions. Statistical analysis further showed significant relationships between selected dimensions of union leadership style and hotel management practices, indicating that effective union leadership contributes to improved workplace cooperation and organizational effectiveness. However, communication gaps, inconsistent policy implementation, and challenges in grievance handling and negotiation remain areas requiring continuous improvement. Based on these findings, a Strategic Enhancement Plan was developed and evaluated as highly acceptable. The study concludes that strengthening collaborative labor-management practices through effective union leadership and responsive management initiatives can enhance workplace relations, employee engagement, and long-term organizational effectiveness within the hospitality industry.