The meeting took place after a skeletal group of employees took their concerns downtown to the Cabinet Office where the Cabinet was meeting.
The workers are pushing for a settlement with the Hotel Corporation on salary increases for more than 200 managers and supervisors at the government-owned hotel.
ﾓI thought we had a very constructive meeting where the concerns were addressed,ﾔ Minister Peet told the Journal.
ﾓThe Prime Minister heard all of the points made and has undertaken, along with myself, to address the concerns after all the facts are on the table. But he was able to hear the serious concerns the union members [have] and some of them are very valid. And so we shall endeavour to resolve the situation as soon as we can with the Prime Ministerﾒs intervention.
The commitment came as welcomed news to key mediator, Trade Union Congress President, Obie Ferguson, who had initially planned to have 220 members of the Bahamas Hotel Managerial Association (BHMA) demonstrate in front of Cabinet Office.
He told the Journal, ﾓAs a result of the meeting, certain facts were revealed and undertakings were made and within the day (Tuesday) we should be hearing something with a view to bringing this matter to a successful resolution. We are satisfied that if all the facts are raised and considered, certainly this matter would be placed behind us.ﾔ
In a letter to Mr. Ferguson dated June 1, Managing Director of the Hotel Corporation Baltron Bethel wrote, ﾓDue to severe financial constraints, continuing losses and extensive renovations during the past year, the hotel is not in a financial position to meet further increases in salary of staff at this time.ﾔ
He continued, however, ﾓSubject to funding becoming available and the governmentﾒs approval, the board of the Hotel Corporation is prepared to give consideration to the following: a lump sum payment of $500 to each employee; four percent increase to be paid in January 2005; $500 lump sum payment to be made in 2006; and four percent salary increase to be paid in 2007.ﾔ
But Mr. Ferguson and his Association have rejected this offer, saying that it makes no sense to make an offer that extends into 2007 because the government has stated its intention to sell the hotel any day now. They also argue that it is senseless given that the offer extends beyond the life of the present industrial contract which expires next year.
Mr. Ferguson is pushing for an arrangement where the Corporation would offer the workers the entire 8 percent in 2005; a $2,500 lump sum payment now and $1,500 upon the sale of the hotel.
The wrangling over increases for the managers and supervisors comes a few months after the Association and the Corporation signed a new industrial agreement that did not deal with salary-related issues.
Prior to the meeting with the prime minister, Mr. Ferguson told reporters, ﾓWhat is so very damaging about this whole thing is that there was an arrangement with the Hotel Corporation whereby because of the countryﾒs economic situation, employees would receive no increase,ﾔ he explained. ﾓBut the Corporation went behind our backs and increased salaries – by as much as $250 a week in some cases ﾖ to some workers.ﾔ
Before the meeting, he had also threatened that the small protest on Tuesday was only a sign of things to come.
ﾓIf we are unable to resolve the matter today (Tuesday), obviously plan B would require us to seriously consider major industrial action,ﾔ he said. ﾓThatﾒs not what we would want. And this is why weﾒve decided to give this thing at least one more chance. But if the government is not prepared to do anything, then we will do what we have to do
ﾓWe are not going to play games with the people. Iﾒve said to this government that we are willing to work with them to ensure that there is industrial harmony in the workplace, but if they are not prepared to respect the labour movement and its leaders, then we will do what we have to do. Thereﾒs nothing unusual about calling a massive demonstration. But we will try to show the people that we are a responsible group of people.
Tensions, meantime, continue to mount in Inagua where 112 employees of Morton Salt Bahamas Limited are planning their next move as the company continues to stall on re-signing an industrial agreement.
Mr. Ferguson said the Industrial Tribunal has ordered that the parties re-execute the agreement signed last year because it did not get an opportunity to review the terms of the contract and approve them as is required by law.
A group of Morton Salt employees was scheduled to stage a go-slow Tuesday. The move was, however, postponed due to ﾓconfidential reasonsﾔ, according to Bahamas Industrial Manufacturers and Allied Workers Union President Wilfred Seymour.
Macushla N. Pinder, The Bahama Journal
