A noisy group of about 200 protesters gathered outside downtown’s Sheraton Centre on Thursday and called for an end to the company’s Green Choice program, which they blame for heavier workloads and fewer hours for room attendants.

The protest was part of a global week of action by the international federation of unions representing hospitality workers. Demonstrations are expected in 30 countries, and aim to draw attention to hotel room attendants’ deteriorating work conditions.

The hotel chain’s “Make A Green Choice” program was launched in 2009 by Starwood Hotels and Resorts, which owns and operates the Sheraton brand. It allows guests to forego housekeeping in exchange for a $5 voucher or loyalty points in the interests of “conserving water, energy and other resources.”

But the program has resulted in a significant reduction in hours for cleaning staff, according to David Sanders, who is organizing director of Unite Here. The union represents 600 mostly female workers at the Sheraton Centre Hotel and 8,000 hospitality workers across the GTA.

Sanders said workers also complained that their workload had become unsustainable, since “green” rooms go several days without cleaning.

“It seems like Starwood’s vision for preserving the environment is built literally on the backs of women, both in terms of hurting their ability to provide for their families and hurting their bodies physically in the rooms,” he told the Star.

According to figures from 2008, 15 percent of hospitality workers get injured on the job — outstripping industries such as mining and quarrying, and agriculture, hunting and forestry.

“Anything that intensifies the workload on room attendants exacerbates what is already an unacceptable situation,” said Sanders.

“I am concerned about the livelihood of the mothers and sisters working at that property, the Sheraton,” said Rafunzel Korngut, a room attendant at the Fairmont Royal York who attended the protest.

“They are using the idea of green choice. But the ethical blindness of this idea is the workers don’t have rooms to clean — and that equals, they don’t have a job. And then if people don’t have a job, they don’t have food to bring on the table,” she said.

According to the Sheraton’s website, participating in the Green Choice program for one night can result in a saving of 596 cups of water and enough natural gas to heat a 400-square-foot room for several hours.

Cynthia Bond, director of public relations at Starwood Canada, said in an emailed statement that more than 5 million guests participated in the program globally between 2009 and 2013.

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“Starwood is the first major hospitality company to require sustainability compliance and reporting for its entire portfolio. The company’s environmental policy establishes the foundation for its corporate responsibility efforts and the steps it is taking to protect the planet and its people,” the statement said.

It did not address questions raised by the Star about the impact of the program on workers.