It appeared that the frustrations of striking Atlantis workers which spilled onto the Paradise Island property today was the most contentious, with half a dozen police officers being dispatched to quell incensed workers.
Over 100 Atlantis workers blocked the entrance to the Royal Towers, demanding that the Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union and resort executives move speedily to sign an industrial agreement.
While Paradise Island was in chaos, it was much of the same for the national flag carrier today. More than 100 flight attendants and ticket counter agents called in sick for the second day today, again crippling flight operations, forcing all seven of Bahamasair’s planes to be grounded.
At midday, Bahamasair officials were locked in managerial meetings with the union and Labour Minister Vincent Peet to try to sort out the issues that precipitated the industrial action.
Both unions at the National Insurance Board were today also thrashing out similar issues among themselves that led to their members staging a two-day massive sick-out last week.
But while they were pushing for a meeting with NIB executives, Director Lennox McCartney said the board had no plans to facilitate that meeting because they needed more time to conduct a thorough review of salaries.
The unions have threatened to continue their industrial action if the meeting did not happen today.
Then there is the on again off again signing of an industrial agreement for middle managers at the government owned Radisson Resort that has stirred old frustrations.
Had it been signed last week as planned, the contract would have put to rest seven years of wranglings.
The Bahamas Hotel Managerial Union has been trying to secure the pact with the Hotel Corporation of the Bahamas for 220 supervisors and middle managers.
Its executives had thought that they were home free, but last minute objections from the other side have forced high ranking government officials to get involved.
Minister Peet is scheduled to deliver an address tonight at the PLP Convention in which he is expected to tout the significant achievements that the government has secured to encourage industrial harmony.
The Bahama Journal
