By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

The Trade Union Congress’s (TUC) president has praised the Attorney General’s decision to drop charges against five union executives at the Sandals Royal Bahamian resort, describing the move as “a step in the right direction”.

Obie Ferguson told Tribune Business: “I think that it’s a step in the right direction, dropping the criminal charges against those individuals who were only exercising their right to associate and peacefully demonstrate.

“It now opens the door for the union and the employer to sit down and have serious negotiations on an industrial agreement.”

According to Mr Ferguson, he last week received a copy of a ‘nolle prosequi’ that was dated September 30. This drops the proscution of, and charges against, five executives of the Bahamas Hotel, Maintenance and Allied Workers Unio, who had been accused of obstruction for protesting near the Sandals property on West Bay Street.

Mr Ferguson said he hopes the Government will “act more as a facilitator going forward”.

The BHMAWU, which falls under the TUC umbrella, has since 2009 been seeking to negotiate an industrial agreement with Sandals Royal Bahamian.

Referring to the terminations of that property’s former 600 staff, he added: “What happened on August 15 was very serious. We are resolved to do what we have to do to deal with the outstanding issues.”

The TUC and its BHMAWU affiliate previously blasted Sandals Royal Bahamian for its abrupt closure, which resulted in some 600 emloyees being made redundant, arguing that it was a ‘union busting’ move.

The Government also came under fire for its handling of the matter. Both the TUC and the National Congress of Trade Unions (NCTU) slammed the Christie administration for what they described as its “deception” towards workers, after the Attorney General had directed that the criminal case against Sandals Royal Bahamian and its top executives be discontinued.

The resort chain, though, has repeatedy argued that the closure, which resulted in 600 employees being made redundant, was essential for much-needed $4 million repairs to take place at the Cable Beach property.

Sandals Royal Bahamian is now set to re-open this week, with a full complement of staff.