MINISTER of Labour Shane Gibson yesterday sympathised with terminated Riu Palace workers as reconciliation meetings with the resort resume today.
Legal counsel for the hotel and fired staff met for two sessions at the Department of Labour yesterday to discuss the termination of two employees last week and an additional 30 on Tuesday.
Referring to the case of two employees fired from the hotel last week, Mr Gibson said: “It is really unfortunate that foreigners would come into the Bahamas and try to terminate [workers], make them redundant.”
Expressing support for fired workers, FNM chairman Darron Cash called on Mr Gibson to aggressively investigate the matter to ensure that their dismissal was justified.
Mr Cash said: “We cannot accept that 30 people are terminated in these times. There ought to be a better outcome, an outcome in favour of people working. These times are too difficult.”
Speaking outside the Department of Labour yesterday, he added: “These circumstances ought to have demanded immediate action.”
On Tuesday, 30 employees were terminated after participating in a protest outside the resort the previous day.
According to Glendon Rolle, attorney for 14 housekeeping staff, workers protested against victimisation, environmental health concerns, improper disciplinary procedures, and unfair distribution of workload.
Employees argue that some workers were not scheduled to work, or were on their lunch break during the protest. According to Mr Rolle, employees on their lunch break were not allowed to reenter the hotel.
The former employees are hoping to be reinstated by the resort after they were summarily dismissed for gross misconduct.
According to the resort’s legal counsel, the hotel plans to release a statement on the matter.
Comments
tireofthemiserablelife 11 years, 5 months ago
My heart goes out to the terminated employees.....but did they not see what happen to the workers at the hotel in Freeport, when they were call off their job by the union....jobs are so hard to find these days, and i understand that the employers are using that as an excuse to treat employees like shit, but we have to be smart because they are just looking for any reasons to let people go. But at the same time we must stand up for our rights and what we believe in and not let NOBODY come in our country and tale advantage of us because of the economy....
justthefactsplease 11 years, 5 months ago
Problem solved!!!! ... the minister has sympathised.
USAhelp 11 years, 5 months ago
If you dont like working quit let someone else have your job.
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