Minister uncertain on hotel union strike vote

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

The Minister of Labour yesterday said he was uncertain whether the hotel union will continue with its strike vote given assertions that its concerns have been addressed.

Speaking on the matter ahead of a Cabinet meeting, Dion Foulkes, pictured, said: “The hotel union has applied for a strike vote on December 17. I am advised by Atlantis that they have withdrawn their plans to institute a new clock-in system they had planned to institute, which the union had taken exception to. I do not know if the hotel union will continue with the strike as a result of what Atlantis did.”

Atlantis this week asserted that there is “no basis for a strike vote”, a position vehemently rejected by the hotel union. The Paradise Island resort, in a statement, called on the Bahamas Hotel, Catering and Allied Workers (BHCAWU) union to withdraw “any trade disputes” filed against it because the matters dividing the two sides have in its view been addressed.

But Darrin Woods, the union’s president, told Tribune Business that “nothing has changed” on its position because it feels the two issues that created the dispute - Atlantis’ introduction of a 12-point disciplinary system and new shift structure for housekeepers - remain outstanding and unresolved. The union is set to meet with its members on the issue today.

John Pinder, director of labour, confirmed that Atlantis had “lived up to its promises” to resolve the dispute. However, Tribune Business understands that the union is unhappy that Atlantis tied its dropping of the 12-point disciplinary system to, and made it contingent on, the BHCAWU finding sufficient members to take on the new housekeeping shift system.

“All of the matters that the union had expressed their concerns over have been addressed by the resort, and we do not consider there to be any outstanding concerns that would warrant any industrial actions,” Atlantis said in setting out its position. “Not only do we not see a basis for a strike vote, but have asked the union to withdraw any disputes filed thus far.”

Tribune Business was told by sources close to the negotiations that Atlantis sent two letters to Mr Woods in the belief they would end the impasse. They suggested the hotel union has not responded to-date to either of the letters, and added: “What would be the reason for the strike vote? They got exactly what they want.”