The Tribune

MINISTER of Labour Shane Gibson yesterday sympathised with terminated Riu Palace workers as reconciliation meetings with the resort resume today.

Legal counsel for the hotel and fired staff met for two sessions at the Department of Labour yesterday to discuss the termination of two employees last week and an additional 30 on Tuesday.

Referring to the case of two employees fired from the hotel last week, Mr Gibson said: “It is really unfortunate that foreigners would come into the Bahamas and try to terminate [workers], make them redundant.”

Expressing support for fired workers, FNM chairman Darron Cash called on Mr Gibson to aggressively investigate the matter to ensure that their dismissal was justified.

Mr Cash said: “We cannot accept that 30 people are terminated in these times. There ought to be a better outcome, an outcome in favour of people working. These times are too difficult.”

Speaking outside the Department of Labour yesterday, he added: “These circumstances ought to have demanded immediate action.”

On Tuesday, 30 employees were terminated after participating in a protest outside the resort the previous day.

According to Glendon Rolle, attorney for 14 housekeeping staff, workers protested against victimisation, environmental health concerns, improper disciplinary procedures, and unfair distribution of workload.

Employees argue that some workers were not scheduled to work, or were on their lunch break during the protest. According to Mr Rolle, employees on their lunch break were not allowed to reenter the hotel.

The former employees are hoping to be reinstated by the resort after they were summarily dismissed for gross misconduct.

According to the resort’s legal counsel, the hotel plans to release a statement on the matter.