The Tribune

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Staff Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net SANDALS union president Lynden Taylor last night dismissed the threats of legal action by resort management over staff intimidation claims as "groundless". Resort general manager Patrick Drake, through legal counsel, has demanded a public apology from three members of the Bahamas Hotel Maintenance and Allied Workers Union for claims of criminal conduct. In a letter sent on February 8 by Mr Drake's legal counsel, respondents Jennifer Turnquest, Tyrone Morris and Alexandria Constance were given 72 hours to comply before legal action was filed in the Supreme Court. Last night, Mr Taylor said: "Nothing actually came out of that. The union didn't do anything that was contrary. We spoke the truth, and you had staff that were willing to come forth and give statements as to what Sandals was doing." He added: "If Mr Drake wanted to go further he could have." Earlier this month, the BHMAWU issued claims that employees were being "threatened" that if they did not sign a petition removing the union as their bargaining agent, they could lose their jobs. Union officials held a demonstration outside the West Bay Street resort earlier this month in protest of the alleged petition. According to the letter sent by Mr Drake's counsel, press material distributed by the union accused the general manager of criminal conduct, illegal activities and of having a regressive mentality. Ms Turnquest was named as the author of the press statement, and Mr Morris and Ms Constance were accused of distribution. Resort officials claim the union's recent allegations have sullied the resort's reputation as an important tourism facility by creating the impression it was in direct contravention of the constitutional rights of its workers. Mr Taylor said: "We're all trying to work together. We're not trying to bring the hotel down. "We cannot [apologise] because we spoke the truth. Sandals should be apologising to the staff for imposing that on them. "At the end of the day, the membership wants the union. At the end of the day you can't go around that. People want representation, they chose the union." Resort management has maintained that 70 per cent of current employees had not been hired when the vote for BHMAWU representation was taken in 2008, and any attempt to "settle the question of union representation" must allow present workers "an opportunity to indicate whether they desire to be part of this union". When asked when he thought both parties would return to the negotiating table, Mr Taylor said the existing trade disputes over the reinstatement of union executives must first be resolved.