The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

EMPLOYEES at the One & Only Ocean Club claim they are “working day-to-day in fear” after the resort announced internally that it would close its doors later this month for ten weeks to undergo “necessary renovations”.

According to a source, the more than 350 employees have been informed that as of August 24 the resort would “completely shut down”, projecting to reopen on November 1.

The source added that employees have not been informed of the status of their future employment at the Paradise Island resort and what arrangements will be made for them during the closure.

“They have been notified, it is common knowledge of what is going to take place as far as construction and development,” said the source. “With that said, what we don’t know is at the end of the construction who would still be employed at Ocean Club.”

Particularly at risk are believed to be the positions of housemen and butlers, roles that could be merged meaning up to 70 people not returning when the resort reopens.

Employees are also understood to be concerned about potential severance arrangements or being asked to take enforced vacation.

In May, resort management told The Tribune that the hotel’s owners, Access Industries, had been planning “a significant renovation” this summer with the $15m redevelopment of the Hartford Wing to include expanded and restyled rooms. That work started in June.

Those plans also include a $3m pool on the beachfront between Dune restaurant and the wooden terrace, a $1m facelift and increased expenditure on entertainment at Dune and upgraded wifi across the property. When that work starts later this month the resort will close to guests.

Access Industries has pledged a $50m expansion of the Ocean Club and said that they were working through the approval process with the government. In May the resort laid-off all 29 of its staff members employed at the Courtyard Terrace restaurant.

That move was considered the start of the hotel’s planned multi-million dollar renovation.

When contacted by The Tribune last month the resort’s general manager, John Conway confirmed the property’s closure but couldn’t give any firm details on the length of the closure or if any employees would be affected by it.

Mr Conway insisted at the time that a determination still had to be made on a number of important issues, adding that when the time was right the necessary announcements would be made.

However, amidst these discussions, The Tribune has learned of labour unrest at the resort, with tensions mounting over changes in employee shift assignments, work functions and job description.

In a letter circulated by and amongst employees which The Tribune has obtained, employees alleged that the “everyday growing anxiety” caused by what they saw as management’s “unethical” operations had begun to take its toll on employees.

“We hope authorities can step in and help save some jobs at The One & Only,” the letter stated. “We want to continue to provide for our families and if an organisation has best interests of members of staff as they know we have no lawyer, no rights and no union,” claimed employees.

The letter went on to suggest “why manipulate and do away with all agreements made in place by not only (the) union but by themselves.

“We can’t let one company or employer come in and take what we made possible for all these years a nice place to work with a wholesome environment. Slavery was abolished, we are in forward progress and it should only get better, not where governments turn their backs on unions for employers to walk on them as if we have no life.”

Some employees are understood to be unhappy with their representation by the Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union (BHCAWU), which has maintained that it’s being phased out of ongoing negotiations concerning employees at the site.

BHCAWU President Nicole Martin was taken into custody by police in mid-June after she attempted to attend an executive meeting at the resort uninvited. Ocean Club officials argued that Ms Martin wasn’t allowed to attend the meeting but tried to anyway.

Ashley McBain, vice-president of corporate communications at Kerzner International, the luxury resort’s operator, said then that the “core focus” remained the long-term sustainability of the resort and hundreds of Bahamian jobs.

“Our long-term commitment remains to work closely with the Bahamian government and the Ministry of Tourism to safeguard the future of the resort and Bahamian employment,” she said. “Our plans have been openly presented to our entire One & Only Ocean Club team, the government as well as the union. We are executing to the plan we presented months ago.

“The ongoing investment is being made to ensure the future success of the resort for our employees and our guests. We are adding over 100 construction jobs for the renovation and subsequently will add over an estimated $1m to $1.2m of additional tax revenue to The Bahamas through the collection of VAT and Business Licence.”