Hinting at a long-lasting dispute between Hotel Union and Hotel Employers’ Association executives, Minister Peet told reporters that the signing of an agreement between Restaurants (Bahamas) Limited and the Bahamas Hotel Managerial Association is evidence that unions can adopt a hard-nosed approach, but still remain cordial at the end of the day.
“Negotiations can be difficult and different parties use different methods in the process,” he said. “But I believe that all the times you were motivated by what was best for both your members and the country. There was a common interest to do what was best for everyone involved.”
It was a direct hit at the Hotel Union and Employers Association.
Shortly after his comments, a government official announced that the hotel agreement would be signed 2:30pm on Wednesday at Workers House on Harrold Road.
Minister Peet announced in the House of Assembly last Wednesday that the contract would have been signed last Friday. This, however, did not happen.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Labour Minister’s attention was focused on the agreement at hand.
Pleased with the progress Hotel Managerial Association officials made over the past nine months in securing a new five-year industrial agreement for Restaurants (Bahamas) Limited, Kentucky Fried Chicken employees, Minister Peet further noted the contract is also a “fairly good one,” considering the country’s economic health.
“There are almost 40 managers and assistant managers that are part of Kentucky’s bargaining unit who must be pleased with the results,” he said. “This is a contract in which benefits have not been reduced, but rather increased and where the base salaries would have been increased over a five-year period.”
The contract begins with a basic across the board salary hike for managers of $25 per week in the first year, retroactive to May 6, 2003. This is followed by a 2.5 percent across the board increase in year three and a one-time lump sum payment of $1,000 in the fourth year. The contract concludes with another 3 percent across the board salary hike.
According to Restaurants Bahamas Ltd consultant, Michael Reckley, the agreement also makes provisions for improvements to basic benefits. The contract further tightens areas like maternity benefits, which is some instances are said to exceed provisions of the Employment Act.
“We’ve taken the initiative at KFC to do some of these things realizing that with bonus plans and other things that were in place to control breakage, spillage, damages, losses that go towards the bottom line, there will be significant gains in those areas,” Mr. Reckley told reporters yesterday.
Also touting the parties’ amicable relations over the past months, Managerial Association President Obie Ferguson noted that while the caliber of negotiations was tough, it was nonetheless “very mature and well considered.”
“A one sided negotiation is never helpful,” he said. “But this is over and now the question focuses on productivity. And so, we are calling on all our members to produce and be terribly efficient, courteous and cover all the areas of concern that they are challenged with. Efficiency, productivity must be the order of the day. As we demand more, more will be demanded of us. And we have to find that happy medium whereby we can take our country.”
Echoing such sentiments, Minister Peet reminded employees that while they benefit from their employment, they also have a duty and obligation to produce in order to keep their jobs.
“Employees have a personal stake in where a company goes,” he said. “Once they can buy into this, there is a win-win situation because there is pride in the employee, who in turn is being recognized for what he/she does.”
Macushla N. Pinder, The Bahama Journal
