The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

THE publication of KFC employees' salaries and benefits by its parent company Restaurants Bahamas, has left its staff "frustrated and insulted to the gutter," a Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union (BHCAWU) official said yesterday.

BHCAWU vice-president Darren Woods was responding to KFC's full summary, released on Tuesday, of employee wages and benefits compared to other fast food franchises.

On average, the summary revealed that employees' wages edge out the competition by almost 53 per cent.

Customer service workers at KFC earn $360 whereas the same position pays $187.50 at other franchises, the food service worker earns $323 compared to $185.50, and cooks are paid $358 while other chains pay $200.

The publication of the workers' salaries, Mr Woods said, "tells that they (KFC owners) are not negotiating in good faith".

Mr Woods said KFC employees did not get the current salaries themselves, nor should they suffer the consequences of an agreement out of their control.

He said: "KFC has been around for almost 40 or 50 years, which means that would be a step up. Those persons didn't start making those salaries and the people they are talking about as competition, just came about."

In addition, he said the union would not allow KFC's desire to fight publicly detract from their aim.

"Our position has not changed, we are prepared to give them whatever concessions we are able to. At the end of the day we are here to negotiate the best and that the employees get whatever their just due is," Mr Woods said.

Last week, union president Nicole Martin warned that the franchise employees will not be bullied by their employer.

Ms Martin was responding to a statement released by the company outlining the status of contract negotiations with the union.

The statement said: "KFC's current wage benefits package is more than two times higher than all of the other fast food brands. As a result, KFC has proposed to the union that wages be rolled back to a level that is more in line with its competitors, as well as a reduction in specific benefits."

According to the statement, as a result of the "union's unresponsiveness", KFC intends to unilaterally implement the changes by February 20.

The BHCAWU is expected to meet with KFC's owners today to continue discussions.