By NATARIO McKENZIE
Tribune Business Reporter
nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net
The Bahamas Hotel Catering & Allied Workers Union (BHCAWU) yesterday said it had placed its members on ‘red alert’, amid fears that other New Providence hotels will attempt to follow Baha Mar’s lead and eliminate the 15 per cent gratuity enjoyed by hotel employees.
The union’s general secretary, Darren Woods, said it was afraid that all members of the Bahamas Hotel & Restaurant Employers Association (BHREA) would follow suit.
Baha Mar executives said yesterday that their Meliá Nassau Beach Resort had been forced into a “difficult decision” because it had not been able to reach agreement with the union on changes to the gratuity method and rate, and had to arbitrarily change them to “keep the hotel economically viable and preserve jobs”.
Mr Woods said the union had been in negotiations with the Meliá over the gratuity issue on behalf of the 300 hotel workers its represents at the property.
“They sent a letter saying that they were dropping the 15 per cent gratuity. You know that there is trouble up in the Robinson Yard,” he added.
“We were in discussions on that issue. We told them that we had to come up with a flat rate because they wanted us to agree with a percentage rate. We were in discussions up to last week trying to come up with a rate.
“They gave us some information, we were still digesting that, and then Wednesday night they sent a letter saying that because we didn’t agree to the all-inclusive plan, they would cease issuing cheques as of Thursday, therefore ceasing the 15 per cent.”
Mr Woods added: “We told them that they had to rescind the letters that they issued the employees. Eventually, they did. The Labour Department has now gotten involved and they are arranging a meeting for us to sit down and conclude this matter.”
The hotel union’s position is that its members cannot afford to lose the 15 per cent gratuity currently levied on all hotel services, as it accounts for 98 per cent of the take-home pay enjoyed by many workers.
Mr Woods said the union had put its members throughout the industry on ‘red alert’ over fears that the BHREA could make the same move at other properties.
“We have placed members throughout the industry on amber alert because the Melia hotel is not a standalone property, it’s a part of an association,” Mr Woods said .
He added that the union was taking “nothing for granted”, adding that Mr Sands also heads the BHREA. “
We believe that there is an attempt to have this done industry-wide. We are not taking anything for granted because it started at the Meliá hotel and could work its way up. We have put our members from Lyford Cay straight up to Kerzner on red alert alert. We are not going to play with that,” said Mr Woods.
He said that unlike the recent lay-offs of 190 employees from the Wyndham Resort, this matter fell under the union’s purview.
“This one is now in our purview because it is in our contract, and the contract speaks specifically to 15 per cent being levied. We know that the properties take their marching orders from the Association. If the Association’s president is making this kind of decision, we are not going to take anything for granted,” said Mr Woods.
Comments
B_I_D___ 9 years, 4 months ago
I've always disagreed with a forced gratuity as a patron...just as I disagree with a 'unearned' bonuses. If I know I am going to get my 15% tip on your bill, what drive is there for me to be a stellar waiter, or other occupation earning that gratuity. Now, if it is up to the discretion of the patron, you are going to be on your A-game to try to earn that tip. Only downfall there is if the kitchen screws up a meal, the patron will not tip, but the bad meal is not specifically the waiters fault, but the waiter got penalized for it, so tips still need to be pooled somehow and dispersed at the end of the day.
duppyVAT 9 years, 4 months ago
Yep .... the hotel workers are just like the BEC workers with their "who gives a shit, I getting paid" attitude ............. That is why our level of service quality is so low ........ same thing in the civil service/corporations with automatic increments and bonuses
This breeds a culture of poor employee attitudes and customer service
Well_mudda_take_sic 9 years, 4 months ago
"Uncle Tom" Sandy Sands continues to be paid handsomely by both his white and yellow masters for his tireless efforts in oppressing his fellow black Bahamians. What can you say about a black man like Sands who is willing to allow himself to be used to kick his fellow black man where it hurts most around Christmas time...right in the pocket book?!!
ObserverOfChaos 9 years, 4 months ago
What an idiot statement...you apparently have no idea what he does or his role....apparently too you believe only black people are bahamians! narrow minded, dark ages thinking.....keep it up and you'll keep yourself and us stuck in the dark ages just like all the other 3rd world countries....time to come to the 21st century...
IslandRoots 9 years, 4 months ago
Its okay, more money for us to make. Natural selection will take care of the rest.
ObserverOfChaos 9 years, 4 months ago
definitely natural selection is at work here....
banker 9 years, 4 months ago
It's about time. The Bahamas is suffering and the automatic adding of 15% for poor surly service has to stop if we want to remain competitively. The pie is shrinking, and everything is going downhill. It is about time that we realised that our tourism product is outdated, not special and we need to be competitive.
JB357 9 years, 4 months ago
The union better fight this one....tooth, nail and eyebrow!!! The rich are trying to get richer! However, hotel workers MUST focus more on good service. Hotel workers can't afford to be laid back. VAT is here!!! Sandy....don't sell us out!
IslandRoots 9 years, 4 months ago
Well mudda take sick,
I have a question - would your comment be worded the same if Sandy Sands "masters" were not white or yellow as you worded it?
Do white Bahamians not matter?
Reality_Check 9 years, 4 months ago
The mudda sic guy obviously meant white and yellow masters of the foreign creed. White Bahamians don't matter much any more when it comes to what goes on in our country....we put d'em local white kind in dere place long time ago! Most white Bahamians have long ago sold their businesses and run for hills in other countries!
Well_mudda_take_sic 9 years, 4 months ago
Yes, but the likes of the Symmonettes with a lick and the Mediterranean tanned Greeks who know just who to grease are still in the game kickin' up a breeze!
IslandRoots 9 years, 4 months ago
Ever heard of Trecos, Roberts, Sands, Eldons, Pinders, Lowes, Currys, Sweetings, Russells? the list goes on.
Ever shoppped at Kellys, CBS, Pinders Customs Brokerage, Marlin Marine, Thompson Trading, John Bull, Tops, Bahamas Bus and Truck, San pin, Friendly Ford, All white owned business - big money right there ;)
Judging by your idiotic comment you probably dont get out of the ghetto much and cant really afford to shop at any of those places. You also more than likely fall into the category of Bahamians who have less than 1,000 in their bank account.
Open up your mind, get rid of your ignorance and hate and maybe you one day can be successful like the white man. And many of the successful Black Bahamians as well who are NOT old ignorant derelics.
croberts6969 9 years, 4 months ago
If all the whites sold their businesses and ran for the hills you'll black Bahamians would be screwed. Realitycheck are you stupid or just retarded.
IslandRoots 9 years, 4 months ago
Such a shame white Bahamians have to endure racism for no reason. I pitty ignorant fools like you
Cornel 9 years, 4 months ago
Here is the problem "The hotel union’s position is that its members cannot afford to lose the 15 per cent gratuity currently levied on all hotel services, as it accounts for 98 per cent of the take-home pay enjoyed by many workers".
So if a waiter has a weekly salary of $100 (which is about it) and that is 2% of his earnings (ie the tips are 98%) that means that he is getting $4,900 a week in Tips? $5,000 a week total earnings OR $260,000 per year.
This is the real problem. The Heads of the Hotel Union are all idiots! ! ! They can not negotiate anything because they do not know anything about the hotel industry.
TheMadHatter 9 years, 4 months ago
Child, I need one a dem waiter jobs - like yesterday.
duppyVAT 9 years, 4 months ago
This not so bright gal take over the Hotel Union making her six-figure salary/perks on the backs of the poor hotel workers ............... no different from Uncle Tom Sandy and the politicians.
But then again this is the neo-plantation complex that the so-called "Father of Tourism" must be still chuckling about long after his demise ........... ah well, Obie??????
ObserverOfChaos 9 years, 4 months ago
All union people do is live large on the dues paid by members! They add NO value to anything or anyone....sooner they are kicked to the curb, the better for this country and our people.....you'll see people starting to make more money by offering better service and not expecting some measly handout!....good riddance unions!
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