The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business

Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

THE hotel union’s president yesterday urged Atlantis executives to “go put their own placards on” as he asserted that workers will not fight the mega resort’s battle with Royal Caribbean for it.

Darrin Woods, the Bahamas Hotel, Catering and Allied Workers Union’s (BHCAWU) head, told Tribune Business that management first needed to explain to Atlantis staff why it was so important that the workers personally speak out against the cruise giant’s proposed Royal Beach Club project.

In the absence of concrete details as to what Royal Caribbean is proposing, he said he refuses to take a stand just because Audrey Oswell, Atlantis president and managing director, has called on the resort’s roughly 6,000 employees to do so.

“The problem is you find people try to get other people to fight their battles for them. You have to first tell me what it is, and how is it advantageous for us as Bahamians or how is it disadvantageous for us as Bahamians, and not because it affects you as an individual,” Mr Woods warned.

“I believe our people are smart enough to know that if people are calling them to do some stuff they first have to explain some stuff, because even when we call our members we have to explain to them some stuff and explain to them how is it going to impact them.”

Mr Woods spoke out after Ms Oswell, in a letter to all Atlantis staff, explained why the mega resort has significant concerns over Royal Caribbean’s plans for western Paradise Island as well as setting out the major environmental issues it believes need to be addressed. She thus did what the hotel union president urged by explaining why the $110m Royal Beach Club investment could have a negative impact for Atlantis and its staff.

“Many of you have expressed your support for our speaking out and asked what Atlantis team members can do to make their voices heard. The local economy is driven by tourism and, for the most part, tourism is driven by the beautiful waters and beaches of The Bahamas and its people,” Ms Oswell said.

“As part of the hospitality industry, we need to stand up and protect our livelihood. I encourage you to share your thoughts with your family and friends. Follow the review process as it unfolds and, if you feel strongly, contribute to the public dialogue.”

Mr Woods responded that the hotel industry is “based on occupancy”, and if resorts are operating at full capacity they will need workers. “Every day you go on a job, you know what could happen if you don’t own the place? This is not saying we must be flagrant with it, but we have to at least be cautious about it because we are just hearing this now, so passionate and loud, and we didn’t hear this before because this (Royal Caribbean project) is not something that just came about; this is something that has been in the pipeline,” he added

“We just don’t know what we are standing up for… We have to be careful when we talk about taking a stand because it’s easier to just rabble rouse people and gather up people. It’s easy to do that. But we have to know what the substance of it is.

“You have to be careful when people call you out to do something. If they’re so passionate about it then why won’t they go out and do something about it? They should lead by example. What have they done, aside from getting in the newspaper to talk? Tell them to put on placards and walk down the street, instead of telling us to go and do it. I bet they wouldn’t do it. Go and put your placards, on and go and do what you’re telling us to do, and we will follow you, maybe.”

Mr Woods said negotiations on a new industrial agreement between the union and the Bahamas Hotel and Restaurant Employers Association, whose main member is Atlantis, are “progressing well.” He said: “Unlike anything else, when you’re talking about money there are differences of opinion, but we are finding ways to get to the end.”

The union president added that there are no fears Atlantis will be forced to lay-off staff members as a result of the Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) rate hike because the hotel depends on occupancy, and once the hotels are filled to capacity they will need employees to work.