The decision was taken as an impasse over a new industrial agreement for more than 6,000 workers at 11 hotel properties continued to drag on.
The union and the Hotel Employers Association had called a truce over the Christmas holiday period, but that ended over the weekend.
Labour Minister Vincent Peet said Monday that he had received reports that some workers were on work-to-rule. It was a situation he considered unfortunate.
President of the Employers Association, J. Barrie Farrington, who is also an executive of the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort, said Monday he was aware of such action. But he said he did not know what effect it was having on the industry.
Hotel Union President Pat Bain was unavailable to comment, while the union’s General Secretary Leo Douglas said he had been off the island and was still awaiting an update from other union officials on what action, if any, had been ordered.
When workers are on work-to-rule, generally they slow down the speed of their work and operate on a reduced level of enthusiasm, refusing to go beyond the call of duty.
They also reduce their level of productivity. The government and the employers had been fighting to avoid such action, which they fear could be detrimental to the country’s number one industry.
One trade union leader explained Monday morning that workers involved in a work-to-rule situation do such things as serve food at a slower pace; and take longer periods to clean rooms, thereby cleaning fewer rooms and keeping guests waiting.
“It could be even more devastating than a strike,” he pointed out, saying that it could be more difficult to determine which workers are actually operating with a reduced level of enthusiasm.
Over the weekend, Minister Peet said union officials were expected to submit a proposal on Saturday revising what they were asking the employers to agree to, but he said that had not happened.
He was hesitant to comment on the matter until plans were properly formalized to avoid worsening what he called “an already touchy situation.”
“I am basically at the point where I have decided to cut back on discussing this because it’s not helpful,” Minister Peet told the Bahama Journal. “This is a very sensitive matter and I have told them (union officials) that I will not discuss anything until we have something definite and they have been very responsible.”
On Saturday he said, “They have maintained their position not to have any industrial unrest over the holidays. I have thanked them for the restraint that they have exercised. So, in an attempt to help them move forward I am not prepared to make any further statements until they have been given a chance to send the proposal to us.”
Over the past several weeks the situation nearly got explosive with Prime Minister Perry Christie being forced to get involved. But not even his efforts were enough to bring the matter to an end.
During the 2003 Boxing Day Parade, Mr. Christie said he hopes that the New Year creates an atmosphere in which industrial disputes are kept to an absolute minimum.
The prime minister admitted that he has been challenged this year by the amount of union unrest.
However, he said he feels satisfied that his government is doing all it can to quickly resolve the matter between the union and the employers association.
The prime minister maintained that the Progressive Liberal Party administration is very union-friendly.
He said one of the reasons for Housing and National Insurance Minister Shane Gibson being a prime choice for his government, was because of his previous ties to the labour community.
Mr. Christie reminded that while there are hotels in New Providence with 100 percent occupancy levels, there are others like South Ocean, which are operating at 20 percent.
He said any industrial action taken at this time could prove devastating for the Bahamian economy.
“I’m hoping that the industrial relations climate will significantly improve,” the prime minister told the Journal. “The Minister of Labour has been working very hard with the BEC union and the Hotel Catering [and Allied] Worker’s Union and both of them gave a commitment to him not to have any industrial strife this holiday season…They both appear to me to be giving a commitment for constructive dialogue and to work with the ministry toward a settlement as opposed to forcing a settlement.”
By Rogan M. Smith, The Bahama Journal
