"Over two weeks ago, about 24 of the 200 managers walked off their jobs protesting "salary anomalies." Mr Ferguson said the salary anomalies amounted to mistreatment of the managers, creating lowered morale.

He explained that a number of the managers had not received an increase for up to nine years. "

if they are unhappy with their job, do what any other normal human being would do, leave and get a new job. these people instead of acknowledging they are lucky to have a job in the current economy, they are instead going to damage the tourism industry for the bahamas, which is idiotic, but moreso dumb. There are many of us that cannot find jobs and find it difficult on a daily basis to pay for food and water. One reason being that the jobs are still used by people that do not appreciate their jobs, and the fact that they can buy food and water.


"The labour problems at the hotel come at a time when the government is looking for suitable buyers. Over a week ago, a 100 per cent Bahamian-owned investment consortium revealed its bid to purchase the hotel.

The investment consortium, consisting of the Hotel Industry Pension Funds, The Myers Group and several prominent Bahamian business people, is offering to purchase the resort and its properties, including the Golf Course and a parcel of neighboring land.

The investment consortium's offer included a detailed and fully financed plan for redevelopment of the properties, which will involve three-phases, scheduled for completion by the end of the first quarter of 2005.

The value of the investment is said to be in excess of $120 million."

Well they are not going to invest with this moronic mentality going on in the business.

Gaming Union Sues Resort

Sharon Williams
20/08/2004


FREEPORT, Grand Bahama – The Bahamas Gaming and Allied Workers Union has turned to the Magistrates Court hoping to get what union officials said the government has failed to carry out: an enforcement of the labour laws relative to its industrial battle with the Royal Oasis Resort and Casino.



A writ has been filed against owners and operators of the Royal Oasis Casino with union officials pointing to section 41(3) of the Industrial Relations Act that says an employer is guilty of an offense if he or she fails, within a reasonable time, to enter into negotiations with a recognized union at his or her property.



For the past two and a half years, the union has been trying to secure an industrial agreement with the casino.



The offense in the Act carries with it a possible jail term of up to two years and or a possible fine of up to $5,000, and Gaming Union President Dennis Britton said the writ was filed in an attempt to get both parties back to the bargaining table.

Both sides are scheduled to appear in court Monday.



Mr. Britton, who admits that the union’s latest move is unprecedented, told the Journal Thursday, “We have decided to take this action because all other avenues, including trying to work with the Royal Oasis Resort, have proven futile.



“So we see no other recourse now but to go before the courts and let the courts decide because if the law means what it says, then we will be victorious in the courts.”



The Gaming Union was registered with the Department of Labour on April 19, 2000. Its recognition was granted two years later.



According to the writ, the resort’s management refused to sign the union’s recognition agreement, and refused to conclude negotiations even though it initially took part in talks aimed at forming the union’s bargaining team.



Union officials have intimated that the protracted stalemate between both parties has been permitted to continue because the government does not truly want unions in the country’s gaming sector.



In fact, Trade Union Congress President Obie Ferguson, who recently appeared on the Love 97 programme “Issues of the Day”, encouraged Mr. Britton to seek the government’s official position on gaming unions.



He told Mr. Britton who called into the programme that, “The Minister gave you [your recognition] but obviously there has been a rethinking of the position and I think that someone should be very upfront with you.



“This [recognition] is not a legal issue. The issue is you need to have a collective agreement and it is the job of the Minister of Labour (Vincent Peet) with the support of his department to cause the parties to sit down intelligently and reach an agreement.”



Mr. Ferguson claimed that the fate of the Gaming Union is tied to the government’s considerations regarding the recognition of a gaming union at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island.



On Thursday, Minister Peet, while pointing out that Mr. Ferguson does not speak for the Minister of Labour, deferred comment on the recent move by the union and on the government’s position regarding unions in the gaming sector.



He instead reiterated that, “In the instance of the Gaming Union there has been recognition granted, and if all parties are exercising their legal right to challenge then that is what is provided for by the laws of the Bahamas.”



Within the past few months, the Gaming Union has garnered the support of the Union Network International (UNI) – a global organization that represents 15 million workers in over 900 unions.



UNI officials say they will continue to watch the progress of Gaming Union dispute, and offer the group’s support wherever it can.

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Gaming Union Sues Resort

Sharon Williams
20/08/2004


FREEPORT, Grand Bahama – The Bahamas Gaming and Allied Workers Union has turned to the Magistrates Court hoping to get what union officials said the government has failed to carry out: an enforcement of the labour laws relative to its industrial battle with the Royal Oasis Resort and Casino.



A writ has been filed against owners and operators of the Royal Oasis Casino with union officials pointing to section 41(3) of the Industrial Relations Act that says an employer is guilty of an offense if he or she fails, within a reasonable time, to enter into negotiations with a recognized union at his or her property.



For the past two and a half years, the union has been trying to secure an industrial agreement with the casino.



The offense in the Act carries with it a possible jail term of up to two years and or a possible fine of up to $5,000, and Gaming Union President Dennis Britton said the writ was filed in an attempt to get both parties back to the bargaining table.

Both sides are scheduled to appear in court Monday.



Mr. Britton, who admits that the union’s latest move is unprecedented, told the Journal Thursday, “We have decided to take this action because all other avenues, including trying to work with the Royal Oasis Resort, have proven futile.



“So we see no other recourse now but to go before the courts and let the courts decide because if the law means what it says, then we will be victorious in the courts.”



The Gaming Union was registered with the Department of Labour on April 19, 2000. Its recognition was granted two years later.



According to the writ, the resort’s management refused to sign the union’s recognition agreement, and refused to conclude negotiations even though it initially took part in talks aimed at forming the union’s bargaining team.



Union officials have intimated that the protracted stalemate between both parties has been permitted to continue because the government does not truly want unions in the country’s gaming sector.



In fact, Trade Union Congress President Obie Ferguson, who recently appeared on the Love 97 programme “Issues of the Day”, encouraged Mr. Britton to seek the government’s official position on gaming unions.



He told Mr. Britton who called into the programme that, “The Minister gave you [your recognition] but obviously there has been a rethinking of the position and I think that someone should be very upfront with you.



“This [recognition] is not a legal issue. The issue is you need to have a collective agreement and it is the job of the Minister of Labour (Vincent Peet) with the support of his department to cause the parties to sit down intelligently and reach an agreement.”



Mr. Ferguson claimed that the fate of the Gaming Union is tied to the government’s considerations regarding the recognition of a gaming union at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island.



On Thursday, Minister Peet, while pointing out that Mr. Ferguson does not speak for the Minister of Labour, deferred comment on the recent move by the union and on the government’s position regarding unions in the gaming sector.



He instead reiterated that, “In the instance of the Gaming Union there has been recognition granted, and if all parties are exercising their legal right to challenge then that is what is provided for by the laws of the Bahamas.”



Within the past few months, the Gaming Union has garnered the support of the Union Network International (UNI) – a global organization that represents 15 million workers in over 900 unions.



UNI officials say they will continue to watch the progress of Gaming Union dispute, and offer the group’s support wherever it can.

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There is a "perception" in this country that all Unions want to do is complain, demand more money, and agitate for the sake of agitation. There is also a strong belief that Unions are destroying Foreign investment in this country.

I do not know all the facts about this situation, but I hope is not more of the perception!

Regarding a Pension Fund that Drift Wood Investment Company (trading as Royal Oasis Golf Resort & Casino) met in place prior to purchasing the resort/casino in Grand Bahama, it has come to my attention that the Bahamas Htoel Industry Management Pension Fund has filed a rite in the Supreme Court for Driftwood Investment to pay outstanding contributions(which they have not made for the past two - three years).

It seems that employees who'd resigned to work for the other casino in Grand Bahama can't get their contributions (which was an option) due to lack of payment by Driftwood.

How safe is your pension fund ?????????????????? :mad:

P.S. Driftwood is bad for tourism in Grand Bahama and the Bahamas. Just looks at their track record.