By NATARIO McKENZIE
Tribune Business Reporter
nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net
The Minister of Foreign Affairs yesterday slammed Baha Mar again for its “reprehensible” decision to stop deducting union dues on behalf of Melia Nassau Beach Resort staff.
Backing his Cabinet colleague, minister of labour and national insurance Shane Gibson, Fred Mitchell told the House of Assembly: “I join him in deploring how the matter of gratuities at the Melia resort are being handled. It is simply reprehensible.
“What appears to be happening is the gains of workers forged over these many decades are being reversed, and this generation of leaders must try and put a stop to it.”
Mr Gibson, in a statement on Tuesday, said Melià had a legal obligation to treat and enter into negotiations, in good faith, with the elected officials of the hotel union.
“Failure to recognise this and to work in accordance with the legislation is a violation of the Industrial Relations Act and, if convicted, the management of Melia and Baha Mar will be subject to a fine of $5,000, imprisonment of up to two years or both fine and imprisonment,” said the Minister in his statement.
He added that the Government felt Melia’s action was “not in the best interest of Bahamian workers”, and urged it “to take urgent and immediate steps to review and reverse their decision, and consider whether it is in the best interest of the hotel to create an environment of industrial unrest that will have a negative impact on the economy of the Bahamas”.
Mr Mitchell said he supported the minimum wage increase from $150-$210 per week. “It is not enough but at this time they say we can’t do more,” he said, noting that when employers often argue they are unable to find Bahamians to work as live-in maids, gardeners or ordinary labourers, the real problem was that they cannot find workers at the price they are offering.
“As far as those labourers are concerned, they are better for not taking your job,” Mr Mitchell added.
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