BY NATARIO McKENZIE
Tribune Business Reporter
nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net
The Democratic National Alliance (DNA) yesterday expressed “dismay” yesterday after some 600 workers at Sandals Royal Bahamian were made redundant, blasting the Christie administration for failing to “stand up” for the workers and make the resort “fall in line”.
DNA finance spokesman Youri Kemp yesterday told Tribune Business: “We are dismayed by this entire affair, particularly when the labour minister said he didn’t know that Sandals was laying off 600 people. I find that hard to believe. I don’t think that Sandals made the determination to lay off 600 people just last week. We understand that there is some angst between Sandals management and the union and this may simply be a union busting tactic where they don’t want those people to organise and fire the persons leading the charge in the union. They may have a soft season but they definitely waited until the time was right to let go a lot of people. It’s just ridiculous. I call on the government to stand up in this situation. They have to have the courage to make them fall in line.”
The Bahamas Hotel Maintenance and Allied Workers Union (BHMAWU), which falls under the Trade Union Congress (TUC) umbrella, has since 2009 been seeking to negotiate an industrial agreement. Last week, Sandals Royal Bahamian general manager Gary Williams and the resort’s financial controller, Ronnie Mirza, both appeared in a magistrate’s court for failing to negotiate with the union, unlawfully terminating several union executives and intimidating union executives. The men pleaded not guilty and were each granted $5,000 bail with one surety.
TUC president Obie Ferguson has slammed the resort for its abrupt closure notice, noting that it was just days before the back-to-school period. It is understood that the all-inclusive Cable Beach property will be closing its doors on August 15 with plans to re-open on October 13. However, union executives said yesterday that Sandals had still not met with them or spoken to the employees regarding the closure.
DNA leader Branville McCartney in a statement issued yesterday noted that labour relations in the country have continued to deteriorate. Mr McCartney accused labour minister Shane Gibson of failing to intervene on behalf of the Sandals works.
“What hotel workers in this country need now, more than ever, is a government that will work to protect their interests first. An administration committed to not just the growth and development of the current tourism product, but also to creating opportunities for Bahamians to own a part of the country’s number one industry,” he said.
The statement noted that at the heart of the DNA’s tourism strategy for tourism is a people first agenda which places more value on Bahamians working on the frontline of the industry. “At all points in negotiations with foreign direct investors, the value of our workforce must always be paramount, and the importance of their role in creating successful hotel environments communicated to hoteliers in a way that is mutually beneficial for all parties.”
Comments
themessenger 7 years, 9 months ago
What is it with Bahamian politicians, wannabe politicians and unionists that they can't seem to grasp the fact that private businesses first responsibility is to their shareholders. They are in business to make money not to provide jobs or prop up corrupt politicians, governments or all for me unionists who make doing business here a nightmare. What law in this country says that a private employer has to keep their doors open, particularly if they're losing money or being harassed by the unions, just to appease the government or the unions executive? Those people have been made redundant and paid their severance in accordance with the law thanks to incompetent meddlers like Obie Ferguson and Shane Gibson. Greed and bully tactics will get you nowhere and in these desperate economic times half a loaf is better than none at all. As you said Mr. Ferguson, those employees have been vindicated under the law of the land. How is your unions unemployment benefits fund looking these days? How are your unemployment numbers looking now Mr. Gibson? Those Sandals employees should be looking for you two with a barrel of hot tar and a sack of feathers.
jamaicaproud 7 years, 9 months ago
Sandals do better please, no Union Busting. Conversely the Unions need to chill. The days of seniority and doing the bare minimum are over. Companies need flexible workers with a good attitude, especially in the hospitality industry. Consequently productivity is more important than seniority. Unfortunately most Unions can't get their members to subscribe to this reality.
Sandals however should not be allowed to suspend operations with redundancies. This is normally when a going concern is closed permanently.
Hogfish 7 years, 9 months ago
don't do it DNA...
you on my list but right now you just trying to score cheap political points by talking foolishness.!! Unions what was once a good thing are now evil, greedy and corrupt !! (how you think gibson gone from laying batelco cable in the road to house in lyford cay!)
Unions don't protect the 'good' worker. Only the ones that cheat and steal.
A good business will protect it's good workers.
stop talkin shit dna and start talking what is right.
John 7 years, 9 months ago
So what about the armies of Chinese construction workers, doing two and three shifts while Bahamian construction workers sitting idle..such hyprocrisy..(yea it spell wrong) so you get the point. And even more about to be hired...where is our national pride..let me guess..at the (Chinese) national stadium wat aint hardly ever used?
themessenger 7 years, 9 months ago
Simple John, both the unions and the Chinese have the government by the balls but Chinese dollars longer than union votes. By the way, when you last see any Chinese unions and what is this "national pride" you speak of? Wherever or whatever that is, it bin missin from roun here for a long, long time.
observerinlondon 7 years, 9 months ago
My dear Bahamian friends, Please wake-up! Sandals are not the problem here. Nor are any of the other business owners in the Bahamas. Bahamians like all other nationalities need to realize that they are in a competitive world where capital will go to wherever it is best to make money. Productivity is an unknown concept in The Bahamas which has been missing for many many years. The government continues to ignore this with poor funding for education, poor infrastructure and a generally anti business attitude. Unless people in government and the unions wake up to the reality of 2016, your little island will simply sink to the bottom of the ocean. Every country in the Caribbean has the same sand, same sun, same hotel rooms BUT with better service, better pricing and better food. The clock is ticking, better wake up before Cuba eats your lunch and dinner.
banker 7 years, 8 months ago
Sigh ... for someone who has spent a year at the London School of Economics, Mr. Youri Aramin Kemp hasn't learned much. Businesses first responsibilities is to their shareholders. Sandals hasn't broken any labour laws. Were they indulging in a bit of union busting? Perhaps. Was the union busting deserved? Perhaps. Mr. Kemp and many PLPs (with the exception of Potcake Miller) doesn't understand the golden rule, that he who has the gold, makes the rules.
The unions have been a scourge on the first pillar of our economy. I've posted this before, but using UNWTO numbers, look at the average cost of a Bahamian holiday compared to others.
It would be okay if there was value for money, but sadly there is not:
by banker
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