By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
NEWLY redundant employees of Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort will not be given first preference when the resort begins hiring employees for its October re-opening, The Tribune understands.
More than 600 employees were made redundant yesterday, drawing criticism from Labour Minister Shane Gibson. Many of the workers said they were caught off guard by the news, with scores of them showing up to work in uniform yesterday only to be told they no longer had jobs.
The employees received their severance packages from Christ the King Anglican Church and the resort’s Cable Beach location. A source connected to the resort said the average payout to line staff was $6,105.
The lowest payout in this category was $758 and the highest payout was $22,717, The Tribune was told.
According to the well-placed source, the average payout for supervisors was $20,614, with the highest payout being $34,747 and the lowest payout was $4,626.
Employees were largely docile as they accepted their packages at Christ the King Anglican Church.
One former Sandals worker, however, told The Tribune about his severance pay: “This ain’t much money to spend.”
Another employee said she was deeply disappointed to be made redundant, but is holding on to hope that she will be rehired.
Some employees complained that they were forced to sign a document before receiving their cheque. One woman claimed that the document ordered that workers not talk about Sandals or sue the property, however these details could not be confirmed.
“You can’t get anything unless you sign the statement and even when you sign the statement you are not getting a copy,” the woman claimed.
Asked about this yesterday, Mr Gibson told The Tribune: “I haven’t seen (the form they were asked to sign) but you can’t force anyone to sign a deed of release in order to receive benefits they are entitled to.”
Earlier in the House of Assembly, Mr Gibson said such a move was “illegal”.
A source close to Sandals also denied yesterday that the government was caught off guard by its intention to make hundreds of people redundant, as Labour Minister Shane Gibson had suggested.
The source said officials of the resort met with Prime Minister Perry Christie several times recently and informed him of the decision.
In at least one of these meetings, Mr Gibson was present, the source said.
Yesterday, Mr Christie declined to speak on the Sandals matter when approached by reporters.
The Tribune understands that the rehiring process at the resort is already underway.
“First preference will be given to employees most qualified for the job,” one source said. “The length of time a person worked there won’t be as relevant. It’s not a matter of seniority. It’s a matter of productivity.”
Mr Gibson had expressed outrage that Sandals decided to make employees redundant instead of laying them off, since in the latter instance the employees could have returned to work at the resort’s reopening.
A Sandals’ source, however, said this option was not possible because the resort does not have a union agreement.
To this, Mr Gibson said: “They could have invited employees to take time off without pay if they wished. I agree the law does not allow lay offs unless it’s in the employees contract, but it can be done by the consent of the employees.”
In a statement yesterday, Sandals said it made employees redundant in order to carry out necessary repairs to the resort.
“Highly regarded for its rich regal history, the 60-year-old resort is set to unveil a newly renovated Windsor pool and restored Balmoral pool deck as well as major upgrades to five of its restaurants to include re-roofing,” the resort said in a statement. “Meanwhile, the Windsor Ballroom is undergoing significant improvements to include updated audio visual equipment and soft furnishings. Other repair work being undertaken extends to the resort’s Red Lane Spa and an overhaul of electrical systems in select areas. Several rooms and suites affected by recent emergency maintenance issues are also being restored. The widespread work is being undertaken as the resort refines its commitment to consistently elevate its offerings and provide guests with the World’s Leading Caribbean resort chain’s Luxury Included vacation experience. The repairs and upgrades which forced the resort’s closure on August 15 are being fast-tracked at an estimated cost of $4m and are to be implemented within 14 weeks - a massive feat itself, considering the original time-frame for completion was appraised at four months.”
Comments
DEDDIE 8 years, 3 months ago
Classical union busting. Sandals will now say that the union doesn't hold majority sway. Another vote will be held and the employees will be reluctant to vote for collective bargaining.
Well_mudda_take_sic 8 years, 3 months ago
Article headline for redundancies above: "Sandals Staff Made Redundant Will Not Be Given Preference For Re-Hiring".
Voter mandate for next general election and beyond: "Corrupt MPs Made Seatless Will Not Be Given Preference For Re-Election in the Future".
realfreethinker 8 years, 3 months ago
Now this is a headline I can support
Theobserver1 8 years, 3 months ago
There's an old story my granny used to tell me about the dog and the bone, when he saw his reflection in the water.
DDK 8 years, 3 months ago
“First preference will be given to employees most qualified for the job,” one source said. “The length of time a person worked there won’t be as relevant. It’s not a matter of seniority. It’s a matter of productivity.”
Sounds like the resort is exercising its apparently legal right to eliminate non-productive employees in favour of efficient employees when it reopens.
One does wonder why the relevant Government officials were not more up to speed on this matter and played no part in guiding the employees on how to act in their best interest. (Unless, of course, they were fully up to speed...............)
Greentea 8 years, 3 months ago
They weren't up to date with Bahamar so judge Sandals. Its simple- business have no respect for the current government- ZERO!
realfreethinker 8 years, 3 months ago
A source close to Sandals also denied yesterday that the government was caught off guard by its intention to make hundreds of people redundant, as Labour Minister Shane Gibson had suggested.
The source said officials of the resort met with Prime Minister Perry Christie several times recently and informed him of the decision.
In at least one of these meetings, Mr Gibson was present, the source said.
banker 8 years, 3 months ago
Fast track construction workers? Wonder who they are and if they can be hired for Baha Mar?
Gotta hand it to Sandals. By not rehiring old employees, they can put anti-union policies that are legal only if is in place before any organising activity takes place. And all new hires come under that policy. You can bet that the few remaining workers have never expressed organising tendencies. It was never a union shop. And with an entirely new work crew, it never will be. And if Obie or TUC tries to unionise again, there will more renovations.
Interestingly enough, the closure won't affect Sandals at all. Over 80% of the bookings are done online, and they are shown the Sandals brand with 20 other Sandals locations that are glitzier than Nassau. You can re-direct Nassau customers to better Sandals resorts using the website booking service by offering them a discount.
Getting rid of all of the workers helps with the court case as well. Who is going to testify for Obie and TUC if you are hoping to get your job back? Brilliant.
Unions are a curse upon the economy and workers of the Bahamas. Union leaders (like Shame Gibson used to be -- and before that, he was Radio Shack clerk), make a good living off the labour of hardworking Bahamians who pay for a lifestyle for union bosses that they themselves can't afford.
croberts6969 8 years, 3 months ago
All these employees need to consult with any attorney. I don't think redundancy applies in these circumstances. The company isn't ceasing to carry on business and their positions aren't being eliminated.
banker 8 years, 3 months ago
If there is no signed union agreement, and there wasn't, there is nothing to prevent a company from declaring all workers redundant every week.
licks2 8 years, 3 months ago
You too need to go and ready the labour law. . .IN THE ABSCENCE OF AND UNION AGREEMENT, THE LABOUR LAW IS AUTHOMATICALLY ENFORCED. . .WHICH HAS MORE TEETH IN IT THAN THE UNION AGREEMENTS! THAT IS THE REASON THAT IS SAID EARLIER THAT THE HOTEL'S MOVE WAS SO DUMB BECAUSE IT DID NOT HAVE AN EXISTING AGREEMENT. . .THEREFORE MUST COMPLY WITH THE CURRENT LABOUR ACT. . .WHICH WILL "JOOK" THEM ALL UP!
THE LABOUR LAW HAS A WHOLE SECTION WHAT IS REDUNDANCY. . .HOW THEY ARE DONE, HOW MUCH PAYMENT MUST BE GIVEN IN REDUNDANCIES, HOW NOBODY CAN BE RE-HIRED IN THE REDUNDANT POSITION AND IF THE REDUNDANT POSITION IS EVER RE-OPENED, THE PERSON WHO WAS LET GO MUST GET FIRST SHOT AT THE NEWLY RE-OPENED REDUNDANT POSITION ETC.!
IN CASE YOU DON'T KNOW, IN LABOUR LAW A REDUNDANCY IS THE ELIMINATION OF A WORK POSITION THAT THE COMPANY HAS NO FURTHER USE FOR. . .AND THE SAME LAW PROHIBITS THE COMPANY FROM "BRING BACK" THE REDUNDANT POSITION AFTER THEY DONE GET RID OF A PERSON WHO THEY WANT DUMP AND CAN'T DUMP! I would suggests that persons who are cheer leading for Sandals should go read the labour act and see how deep in poopoo Sandals gone. . .ABSOLUTE DISREGARD FOR OUR LABOUR LAW!!
licks2 8 years, 3 months ago
Phew. . .one person on this site who knows a thing about the labour law of the Bahamas! This case will sink Sandals. . .they will pay out millions for court cost and compensations for wrongly fired workers!!
Their HR professional "mussie" got their training from down in "McCoy yard" down there on Market St and Palm Tree Ave. . .with McCoy brother Jane as the teacher! If this was a country such as USA, CA or even Jamaica that hotel will be "slapped" up side their heads and buried forever in court and be fined such a sum that it will never recover!
OMG 8 years, 3 months ago
Some of those severence packages are more that a civil servant gets as his / her gratuity after 30 to 40 years.
ashley14 8 years, 3 months ago
Unions don't work in the United States either. The idea sounds great, but first off it runs the prices up. The union actually take the word team out of a work crew. It makes employees lazy, because they feel protected. This doesn't really work in the hospitality business. When everyone is relying on guests and return guests for the business to prosper. People won't come back if they think the property is run down, dirty, poor quality, rudeness or unsafe. Positive feedback from quests will make everyone more money.
licks2 8 years, 3 months ago
Yall think that the hotel was brilliant in their "underhanded" move. . .just wait until they try to refill those redundant places. . .THE LABOUR LAW PROHIBITS MAKING JOBS REDUNDANT TO "RID" OF UNWANTED UNION-AFFLIATED WORKERS. . .THE SAME POSITIONS CANNOT BE FILLED AT A LATER DATE. . .OR THE SAME WORKER HAS FIRST PREFERANCE TO THAT RE-ESTABLISHED POSITION! YALL NEED TO GO READ THE LABOUR ACT. . .REDUNDANT MEANS THAT THE POSITION IS "CUT OUT" AND NO LONGER NEEDED. . .SO THE COMPANY ELIMINATED THE POSITION! IF THAT HOTEL RE-HIRES ANYBODY FOR POSITIONS MADE REDUNDANT IT WILL FIND ITSELF IN COURT. . .THE LABOUR LAW WILL BURY THEM DEEP DEEP DEEP. . .ANY PERSON WITH HR TRAINING WILL TELL THEM THAT. . .THIS WILL NOT WORK! NOW YALL SEE WHY THE HOTEL WANTS THE REDUNDANT WORKERS TO "SIGN" THEM NO-FAULT LETTERS. EACH UNION-BUSTED POSITION WILL NOT BE FILLED AFTER THEY RE-OPEN. . .IF THE HOTEL DOES. . .THEY WILL GET JOOKED SO HARD THEY MAR WILL FEEL IT WHEREVER SHE IS!!!!
moncurcool 8 years, 3 months ago
If Sandals did something wrong, why has not the minister of labour told the attorney general to bring a lawsuit? Evidently, the minister is trying to use smoke and mirrors to make himself look good and the company look bad. It is clear that the company did nothing illegal. If they did, they would have been arrested or a court case brought.
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While I am truly sympathetic with the persons who have lost jobs, we need to learn as was said earless form these unions and jack tar in west end. Until we get educated union leaders and not thug union leader, we will sadly continue this demise. I love my country and want the best for it. But sadly we are have people leading some organizations in our country who are clueless about leadership.
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