The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

WORKERS at the Grand Lucaya Resort took a strike vote yesterday at the Grand Bahama Taxi Union Hall. Michelle Dorsett, president of the Commonwealth Union of Hotel Services and Allied Workers, said the poll started at 9am for all line and managerial staff at the resort. The polls closed at 5pm.

She was pleased with the level of participation. “We have got a full turnout of workers,” she said. The union had called for a strike vote on March 28 after some 50 hotel staff and 30 security officers were laid off at the resort.

That poll did not happen because labour officials could not facilitate it, which was scheduled for 364 hotel workers at Le Utopia. The reasons given at the time was that there was no one to supervise the poll.

The union claims that the terms of the industrial contract were breached as it relates to how and when layoffs should happen. Ms Dorsett was also concerned about attempts to rehire the layoff workers as casual workers.

She claimed that the hotel had outsourced to a local security firm. She said casual workers receive no benefits and are excluded from vacation pay and sick leave. She also said they would be working more hours and earning much less. “Today is a red letter day – a historic day for the union and workers at Our Lucaya,” Ms Dorsett said.