The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

NOW that business has significantly improved at the Our Lucaya Resort, Trade Union Congress leader Obie Ferguson is insisting that management sit with the union and negotiate an industrial agreement for workers at the property.

Mr Ferguson said he was told hotel occupancy is running at 100 per cent and is expected to continue for a reasonable period of time. He said the Our Lucaya is also expanding.

The Commonwealth Union of Hotel Services and Allied Workers (CUHSAW) represent the 500 workers at the Our Lucaya Resort. Michelle Dorsett is the president. CUHSAW is under the umbrella of the TUC.

Mr Ferguson, who is also the union’s attorney, said that he and Ms Dorsett are expecting to meet today with management at Our Lucaya, with a view to speeding up the negotiations.

The CUHSAW became the bargaining agent for workers in June 2010. The union is seeking to negotiate a three-year labour agreement.

“I am here to bring a very simple message, it is not a threat; we want to sit down in the interest of the 500 workers and negotiate an industrial agreement,” he said at the union’s office.

“We want to sit down as intelligent, reasonable people. We do not expect everything we asked for, but we expect something that is reasonable and better.

“We will not agree on changing any terms or conditions that would be less than what the workers now enjoy,” he said.

In addition to a new industrial agreement, Mr Ferguson said the union is also seeking to get the money owed to previously fired workers.

Mr Ferguson invited workers at the Memories Resort to join CUSHAW. He said that salaries at that property are very low and workers are not paid gratuity.

“That is a travesty,” he said.

Speaking on a wider issue, Mr Ferguson said that Bahamian families cannot survive on minimum wage.

“I have a serious problem with the minimum wage. They cannot expect a Bahamian family to live on a $150 per week. I gave them the figure, I told them that it should be $350 to $400.

“When we ask them to (raise) minimum wage they say we trying to destroy the country. Everybody paying VAT now – we pay 7.5 per cent on everything we purchase.”

Another concern is when employees work on public holidays.

“You should be getting three days if you work on a public holiday, not two (days),” said Mr Ferguson.

Mr Ferguson said the union does not want to destroy the country as some persons say.

“We are trying to get people what they are entitled to. We are trying to equalise things a little bit between haves and have nots,” he added.