The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

and NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

Sandals Royal Bahamian’s general manager yesterday dismissed as “mischief” claims that the all-inclusive resort was set to terminate 129 employees, as the trade union body responsible for making them swiftly withdrew the allegations.

Trades Union Congress  (TUC) president, Obie Ferguson, claimed the Cable Beach resort was set to begin the lay-offs yesterday, arguing that such an action would “contravene” an unregistered industrial agreement between Sandals and a TUC-affiliated union.

These claims were quickly shot down by Sandals Royal Bahamian’s general manager, Gary Williams, who told Tribune Business bluntly: “All he [Mr Ferguson] had to do was reach out to me and I could have told him there is no such thing; nothing like that is happening.

“People are just trying to make mischief. If I did something like that I would have had to go through the Ministry, let the union know what I’m doing. People are creating excitement when there is none. There is no such thing. Nothing like that at all. I had to call a radio station and tell them the same thing. I don’t know where this story has come from.”

Mr Ferguson, when contacted by Tribune Business over his press release, immediately backed down from the claims, which he said were based on information received from Sandals Royal Bahamian staff at the weekend.

“Before I left home I received a telephone call from Robert Farquharson [director of labour], who assured me it was two or three persons they were letting go, as opposed to 129,” Mr Ferguson told Tribune Business.

“My phone was inundated with calls over the weekend, and I was told that [129 lay-offs] was the position. At 8-8.30 am I got a call from the director of labour, who said he’d spoken to the general manager, Mr Williams, who said it was probably two, maybe three, who will be terminated.”

Line-staff at Sandals Royal Bahamian are represented by the Bahamas Hotel, Maintenance and Allied Workers Union (BHMAWU), a TUC affiliate, which has waged a lengthy battle for recognition.

Union executives said as recently as April that they were looking to begin negotiations on an industrial agreement.

Mr Ferguson yesterday emphasised his delight at the information he received being inaccurate, and said: “This is a time when people need a job, and I call on all workers to put their best foot forward and perform at the level that is required for their respective jobs - to make sure they provide a full day’s work for a full day’s pay.”

Suggesting the TUC and its unions were prepared to work with management to improve productivity and service levels throughout the economy, Mr Ferguson added: “In the tourism industry, we have to find ways to give professional service to guests.

“The TUC and all its affiliates stand ready to work with management to bring the level of performance up to acceptable levels, with guests treated with the highest respect and the product we’re offering superior to any destination in the region.

“That must be the focus and, at the same time, we must ensure the company respects the rights of the worker.”

Any redundancies of the magnitude suggested by the TUC press release would also be at odds with recent indications that Sandals Royal Bahamian is recruiting, not downsizing.

For it held a job fair as recently as February. Although the resort did not disclose how many jobs were available at the time, it was estimated that more than 1,000 persons showed up attempting to secure employment.