BAHAMAS Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union president Nicole Martin announced plans yesterday to appeal a court decision on the union’s elections in order to avoid paying “significant” court costs.

Chief Justice Sir Michael Barnett had ordered the hotel union to hold elections no later than February 28 after finding the organisation had breached its constitution by not holding elections last May, as well as its tri-annual general meeting.

Ms Martin said at a press conference yesterday that the union is only appealing that decision “in our effort to save the union money” and not because they oppose the order for new elections.

“We find now that if we do not appeal, the union will have significant costs to pay even though the action was not brought against the union,” she said.

Ms Martin noted the union does not want to “stop any wheels in motion” and the coming election will proceed as ordered by the court.

“As a matter of fact, we have ballots already prepared,” she said. “Clearly we’re not in any way, shape or form, attempting to stop this election.”