The employees said that Kerzner International nor the Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union ever informed them that the hotel will be closed for renovations and that they will be out of work during that period.
Irate employees like Caroline Thompson said that many workers will be adversely impacted by the closure.
“You can’t send people home for more than five weeks and don’t give them any money, because people have to feed their children,” Ms. Thompson said. “There’s a right way to do things and the union should have informed us about this a long time ago.”
Christopher Strachan, a chef at the property, who said he already had a vacation planned during the five-week period, supported his coworkers in their complaints.
“What we are really fighting for is that we need to work five days,” Mr. Strachan said. ﾓFour we will be grateful, but five days will be good…They may be closed for eight to ten weeks and where does that leave us?”
He said that the employees may still be at a disadvantage if they are transferred to the nearby Atlantis Resort, another Kernzer property.
“Whenever we go down to Atlantis there is a lot of tension and if they know that you are from the Ocean Club they probably would give you one or two days,” Mr. Strachan said. “You would be lucky if you know one of the supervisors and they give you more than two days.”
Ed Fields, Kerzner International’s Vice President of Public Relations, was on the scene talking with the employees, but did not speak to reporters.
First Vice President of the Hotel Union Quebell Rolle said that the resort will be closed from September 2 to October 6.
Mr. Rolle said that the hotel is not prepared to pay any wages to the employees during that time, but he said the union will attempt to negotiate with the Kerzner group to try and come up with more favorable conditions for the employees.
“We were able to convince the company to credit all of the persons who have had vacation, a vacation credit and repay it back over a three year period,” Mr. Rolle said. “We don’t know if the workers will agree to it.”
He said the union planned to meet with the employees Wednesday to further discuss the matter.
By Yvette Rolle-Major, The Bahama Journal
