By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

Industrial unrest appeared to be brewing at the Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort last night, a trade union warning the resort to “avoid unintended consequences” over moves to reduce work hours for middle management staff.

Documents seen by Tribune Business show that the resort, which is owned by Baha Mar, has moved to cut costs and better align the working hours for Bahamas Hotel Managerial Association (BHMA) employees with occupancies/demand.

Such action is normal throughout the Bahamian resort industry during the traditional ‘slow period’ of August-October, and “reduced schedules” for BHMA members have taken effect this week.

However, this has not gone down well with the Association, which is alleging that the Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort’s “unilateral” move to alter its members’ working hours without consulting it is a breach of their industrial agreement.

Labour attorney Obie Ferguson, who is also the Association’s president, wrote in an October 7, 2013, letter that the Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort had failed to account for sections 50-52 in their industrial agreement.

Addressing Sharon Sands, the Sheraton’s director of human resources, Mr Ferguson said: “The effect of your letter....., where you asserted your intent to unilaterally vary the industrial agreement by reducing the work week beginning October 7, 2013, without the union’s agreement, if carried out would be a fundamental breach of the industrial agreement.

“It is our hope that the Sheraton Cable Beach Resort will begin negotiations with the Association immediately so as to avoid unintended consequences.

Mr Ferguson did not respond to Tribune Business messages left at his office or on his cell phone yesterday, seeking comment.

A voice mail message left for the Sheraton’s general manager, Edward Baten, was not returned either. Robert Sands, Baha Mar’s senior vice-president of government and external affairs, told this newspaper he was in the middle of giving “presentations” in New York yesterday, and did not return this newspaper’s call prior to press time.

In her original letter to Mr Ferguson on October 1, the Sheraton’s Ms Sands said the reduced work hours and schedules were designed “to deal with the low occupancy levels” it was currently experiencing.

“We have already begun the slowest months of our tourism season, and as is the norm, business demands are dictating operational needs,” Ms Sands wrote.

“Beginning August 19, 2013, the schedules for most of our line associates were adjusted to reflect the occupancy levels.”

And she added: “With effect from October 1, 2013, we have consolidated a number of our restaurants and modified their menu options....

“Inevitably, the reduction in labour demand also affects associates covered by our agreement with BHMA, and therefore we must now take steps to also reduce their schedules. The reduced schedules will go into effect for the week beginning October 7, 2013.”

Bahamian resorts typically reduce staff levels, and hours worked, during the August-October period in an effort to match reduced tourist demand and reduce losses that can run into the millions.

The Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort is thus doing nothing out of the ordinary, and is encouraging staff with vacation owing to take it during this time.

“Until occupancy levels return to normal and/or our business level demands an increase in labour, every effort will be made to rotate the available weeks between those that are not on an approved leave of absence,” Ms Sands wrote.

“We are looking forward to the day when we are not so affected by seasonality. However, until then we must respond accordingly.”