This came in the signing of a smaller agreement with management of the Orange Hill Beach Inn, located on West Bay Street.
The actual signing of the contract took place at the Department of Labour on Thompson Boulevard Wednesday.
Quebell Rolle, the union’s 1st Vice President, applauded the inn’s management for reaching the agreement at the time when he said the industry is experiencing economic difficulties.
“This contract is a year late but we were able to in good faith get [property owner Jeremiah Lowe] to negotiate a package that we believe the workers could live with,” Mr. Rolle said. “We have an increase for the four years plus we were able to get a lump sum payment of $257 for the year that we have missed- which was last year.”
The Orange Hill Inn, which has been in operation for more than 20 years, has a total of 32 rooms and 12 employees.
Mr. Rolle said that over the next four years, the workers will receive a total of $35 salary increase per week over four years. A $12 increase per week will come in the first year; an $8 per week increase in the second year; a $7 per week increase in the third year; and an $8 per week increase in the fourth year.
Mr. Low explained that “things have been very bad” for the property which has had to cut back on expenditure by 30 percent.
He said occupancy levels have been low.
Mr. Rolle said, “Right now we think that we are satisfied with the agreement for the amount of workers we have there. We are not trying to sink this small property, we are just trying to make sure that the resort is able to give the employees a moderate increase and we are thankful for that.”
The contract includes payment for vacation, holidays, normal working hours, sick leave, maternity leave, accident, severance pay, industrial goodwill, and Christmas. The union, however, was not able to negotiate a pension fund for the workers.
Mr. Rolle said that the union will pursue the pension benefits in future agreements.
“This union is mindful of workers, bearing in mind that they have put all their time in the industry and at the end of their tenure, would need something to keep them going,” Mr. Rolle said.
This is the second contract the union has had with the property.
Mr. Lowe thanked the hotel union for being reasonable and understanding after long deliberations.
“We were able to come to an amicable agreement at the end of the day,” Mr. Lowe said. “I am glad that it is all signed and I look forward to another four years of working together and hopefully in four years things would be better and I always try to give the best that I can afford to my employees.”
President of the Hotel Union Pat Bain and Labour representatives were also present for the signing.
Yvette Rolle-Major, The Bahama Journal
