10 People Made Redundant At Hamilton Princess
[Updated with video of BIU comments] Ten people have been made redundant at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess, with the hotel citing changes in “business needs” as they are restructuring their operations.
Len Czarnecki, General Manager, The Fairmont Hamilton Princess said, “Due to changes in our business needs, we are restructuring our operations.
“As part of this decision, I can confirm that the hotel has made redundant 10 positions. Letting colleagues go is tremendously difficult at any time and I would like to thank these colleagues for their service to the hotel.”
Update 3.05pm: On a related note, General Manager Len Czarnecki has been transferred, and his last day at The Fairmont Hamilton Princess will be February 7th.
A spokesperson at The Fairmont Hamilton Princess said, “Len Czarnecki has been transferred by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, and his last day at The Fairmont Hamilton Princess will be February 7.
“Over the past three years, Len has provided strong leadership to The Fairmont Hamilton Princess managing the change of ownership at the hotel and subsequently working with the owners on the $70 million redevelopment of the property.
“From hotel openings to renovations and repositioning, Len brings a valuable skill set to FRHI and will be staying with the company in his next role. We thank Len for his leadership and wish him much success in the next chapter in his career.
“A global search is underway for a new General Manager. In the interim, George Terpilowski, Managing Director of Fairmont Bermuda will assume responsibility for the operation of the hotel.”
Update 3.36pm: BIU President Chris Furbert is now holding a press conference addressing this matter. We will update later with the full video of Mr. Furbert’s comments.
Update 3.42pm: Mr. Furbert said some of those laid off were bar porters. He said they were made redundant as of Friday, and described some of those laid off as “young Bermudian men.”
Update 3.51pm: Mr. Furbert said the staff got four weeks pay in lieu of notice.
Update 5.02pm: 18-minute video of the BIU press conference
Mr. Furbert said five of those laid off are BIU members, and four are Bermudians. Three worked as bar porters, and two in the in-room dining area.
He also expressed concern about the collective bargaining agreement not being correctly followed, calling their actions “inexcusable.”
He also said they should not be so “presumptuous” to assume that the bartenders will do the work of the bar porters who have just been laid off.
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Articles that link to this one:
- PLP Supports Linking Concessions To Jobs | Bernews.com | January 30, 2014
- Fairmont Hamilton Princess Union Staff Walk Out | Bernews.com | February 4, 2014
- BIU Special General Council Meeting Begins | Bernews.com | February 5, 2014
ooooops……..historically it was called a ‘lay-off’
and to think I was rev-ving up for your super-bowl party….no thanks, I’ll just stay home, burn my own chicken wings, and watch my 25inch fat-back TV…. I won’t show up for happy hour this summer either, unless you can justify why you chose to use the ‘redundancy’ clause instead of simply laying off 10 locals with the possibility of recall.
Chesh man um waiting for someone to blame de P.L.P !!!!!!!!!!!
C’mon Mazumbo, no conspiracy theory here! Can’t support a business that doesn’t support local labor….
You might as well say Country.
No you wouldn’t as that would be be lie. Are you a liar Mazumbo. It certainly appears that way.
One thing I think the union isn’t realizing is that they no longer have the control over these things. Look at the KFC dispute. Since reopening, KFC lines have been crazy! What did all that noise do? Nothing. If the economy doesn’t improve, people are going to continue to lose their jobs and employers aren’t going to feel the pressure of the union anymore. They’re going to do what they need to survive.
We need to improve this economy! So let the OBA try whatever new ways they need! Enough fighting it or expect more layoffs to come!
Yeah money over people,…UBPoba…next big problem created are Social issues and break down of our overall society which will impact us all..yeah forget people, as long as I can make money…REALLY
1 There’s always money over people. It’s not a Bermuda thing or a PLP?OBA thing. It’s worldwide. It’s always about who can make money wherever you are in the world.
2. Social issues. Really, that’s already here; Gang violence, high rates of domestic violence etc.
Social issues come from the dilapidation of social equality, fairness, opportunity and exception so don’t try to us subliminal stereotypical words to prove a point because you silver spoon, privileged excepted ones have your issues too, there not deemed social issues because you keep them under cover.
No moral guidance and an attitude of take and entitlement have had a huge detrimental impact on society……eg your invented nonsense about people having a God given right to work really don’t help.
There are Equal chances out there, you just have to have the determination and drive to earn them over the long haul. Once you’ve eraned them, that’s when the harder graft begins and never ends.
Equal chances!!!!
I was skeptical that you was a Dreamer now I’m CONVINCED !!!!!!!
You want it all provided for you by others Mazumbo. Like a Leech sucking the blood of Bermuda.
If you believe you can’t, they you will never. That is what holds you back.
Lol so you either are oppressed or you’re privileged. No in between? Aren’t the majority in between? It really is this kind of thinking that will make sure bermuda is never again the nice place to live that it once was.
Money don’t grow on trees. The PLP never quite understood that did they BEtty (plp) Trump.
Business don’t let people go for fun, they do it out of a neccessity. Have you ever had to fire someone?
And where exactly does the paper for money comes from? if not from a tree..
Oh, I see what you did there. Still, it doesn’t grow on the tree now does it. Wood used to make paper IS THE TREE ITSELF. To grow on the tree money would have to be a fruit of the tree. It is a fun retort, that is limited in it’s lifetime.
I’m not 100% sure what current notes are made from. Could be part paper, part cotton, part plastic and part metals (plus the staining).
Had a quick look but couldn’t find out.
Someone showed me a Canadain note a few weeks ago… all Plastic!
hmm–how much does one pay for a cup of tea(leaves)?
For your information the K.F.C dispute was effective it was the workers who didn’t have the b@lls enough to stand their ground, all I can say is keep on trying to diminish organized labor, which is the O.B.A/ubp’s mandate since it’s birth and deny the people off their God given right as workers, it’s not gonna be comfortable Bermuda for anyone.
STAY TUNED!!!!!!!!!!
Please enlighten me of these “God-given rights” that workers have. Within the entire history of human-kind, workers’ rights are a recent development.
Ya workers rights are a recent development and thank God for them, the problem in Bermuda is some employers who adopted the habit of utilizing cheap labor with minimum benefits which is a custom of the colonist mentality disregarding the humanity of their menkind and treating some of them as industrious tools.
The reason I said God given rights is because when workers fought for rights against greed, injustice ,equality ,etc, etc IT WAS God who gave us the wisdom and strength to achieve it but I understand your mentality because its historically in you to have people working for free but in this day and age that don’t play.
I don’t blame the foreign worker for working for peanuts because where their from its a blessing but don’t pull that crap on Bermudians after our for fathers sacrificed, fought and struggled to give us this good standard of living.
bermyluv—–the only Constitution in the west ensures our rights as entitlement from birth to have ALL our needs met as Moorish descendants, but our arrogant ignorance of THE LAW won’t allow people to seek the truth ,the only TRUTH that we hold to be self evident, that all men are created equal with certain inallienable Rights! There are so many systems that have been working against our recieving ourbirthrights because we like to remain ignorant, don’t want to read or take time to question why there are haves and have nots.Melaninated people have and non-melanated people were the have nots and will never have dark pigmant so because of this jealousy we were stripped of our natural rights through torture, kidnapping, murder and abuse, we forgot who we are and have been under heavy european sedation, the children of the world, as predicted in the good book have turned against the Parents of the Planet..Also lots of misguided religiousity has convinced our people to wait on a God outside of themselves therefore we have lost millions of people to a concept based on control..Our Herastory WILL be heard one day and there will be a flip of the script! Nothing last forever and the devils reign is almost completed…So if you really want to know our GOD given rights you must understand, innerstand the MElanin that exists in dark people is very important to people that don’t have it and they will go to any lengths to try and be melinated, pay all sorts of money for our body parts to improve and lengthen their stay on earth.. Don’t thiunk for oine moment that you are not entitled to the riches of this Earth, the Sun above has shone on, and in us to give us something very special to remind us of our importance to the Universe!
You are scientifically correct.
Melanin is a neuro chemical that not only is responsible for color of skin but played a major effect in intelligence for our ancestors.
How do you think we built de Pyramids and these dreamers still cant figure that out with all the modern technology today. I think this is a lil deep for bermyluv.
So you think one race is smarter than another?
No but that’s what has been portrayed down through the years and I think you would agree if your honest.
Mazumbo, you are hold us back as a people with your divisive race based diatribe
Wait… “these dreamers still cant figure that out…”?
Can’t figure WHAT out? And whom?
How to build a pyramid? Um. Yes, they can.
How they did it? Um. Yes, they HAVE figured it out.
You’re either misinformed or misinforming.
Um more like speculation.
And no they weren’t built by aliens!
LMAO
Speculation?
Ridiculous. Your statement was wrong, no matter how you spin it.
You are, as per usual, incorrect.
@Mazumbo, you truly speak out of the wrong hole most of the time! on one hand you preach the hate of the white man and holding back your people with slavery etc , and in another you say you built the pyramids, which you mean blacks, so we agree on that , but if that is what you say , did you not hold back and enslave to build those pyramids???
No, that concept originated in Judeo-Christian tradition and has been popularized by Hollywood productions like Cecil B. Milles Ten Commandments, further studies have proved otherwise, there were different classes of social status as usual like the Europeans had Royalty and peasants so I would have to say your incorrect.
Building Pyramids was a national concerted effort when villages rallied together to work for the Pharaohs, a good example is the Tower of Babel in Gen.11, but Europeans find it hard to believe that ancient Africans built mighty Empires without forced slave labor.
Yup, and you will starve to death long before I do!!! Go for it!!! Ever thought of the employers rights who actually pay you workers??? When you all are prepared to share in our losses I will be the first one to say you need to share in our profits!!!
But we do share in your losses. When business is bad for the employer, us employees either get made redundant, take pay cuts, get laid off etc… Wouldn’t you consider that sharing in the employers losses?
But that doesn’t count right? An employer should have the right to exploit their worker for the sake of financial gain. Better yet, bring in some cheap foreign staff who can be even further exploited and manipulated. No qualified bermudians for the position huh? Yeah right!
As much as I feel bad for my locals brothers without work, I feel equally bad for the foreign brothers who come here and work for peanuts. No voice because they’re too afraid they’ll be sent back home. All employees, foreign and local, have a right. A right to make an honest fair wage, quality healthcare, and a safe working environment.
What I speak out against, are greedy employers who take advantage of people in need, who will work for scraps. Give guys full time “hustles” with no health benifits. Or threaten to fire or “send them home” if they don’t do as they’re told. Chains and whips replaced with exploitation and manipulation. And it not a black and white thing, it’s a human race thing. Greed is the undoing of this world.
Take for instance Trimmingham’s, paid their staff peanuts and when they went out off business everybody feeling sorry for Trimmingham’s, who have been in business since they where shipwrecking ships and looting the spoils(they called it piracy back then)and took little concern of the employees who have worked there for years for meager wages.
That’s why the Oppressors hate the Union.
Then expose these employers. Name them.
Employees don’t have a god given right to work. They have a right to equal treatment under the eyes of the law and equal opportunity. Your comment speaks to a prevailing and erroneous sense of entitlement which unfairly paints the rest of us as spoiled children who deserve something simply because of where we were born.
very well said 36n64w
Yes workers rights are a recent development and it came about because of people like you who have a Colonist mindset that has abused workers over the years for your own greed and gain and I can understand why you treat foreign workers the way you do because the meager wages you pay them is a blessing compared to back home, but to try to use that same tactic on Bermudians whose for fathers sacrificed, fought and struggled to earn us a better living goes to show the mentality of the descendants of the Oppressors are still operating.
lay off the guest workers who are bar porting and waitering!
Lisa, guest workers cannot work at bars. Also, 10 people were let go; where did you read that they were all Bermudian? Also, being a bar porter does not mean you can serve at tables.
If guest workers can’t work at bars as you say and the article states that all 10 were Bar Porters, does that not tell you that they were local?? Using your logic of course.
Also, guest wrokers CAN work at bars, they just can’t work behind the bar, get your facts straight before you run your mouth and insult others.
The article does not state that “all 10 were bar porters”.
It says “some of those laid off were bar porters”.
So I think it’s you who needs to, as you put it, get your facts straight before you run your mouth and insult others.
how was love Bermuda’s post insulting?
You seem to be the angry one here.
Anyway thanks for showing us all your knowledge on this (“can work at bars” vs “cant work behind bars”)but you cleary didnt watch the press conferance or read the story.
“Mr. Furbert said five of those laid off are BIU members, and four are Bermudians. Three worked as bar porters, and two in the in-room dining area.”
You are quick to insult someone who was not insulting, and then you go and get it wrong yourself. How embarrasing – if only you used your real name.
Ugh.
10 were let go, of those ten five were unionized, of those five unionized workers four were bermudian and one was not. Two of the unionized workers working in the dining rooms and three were bar porters.
Reading comprehension is a wonderful thing.
All ten were bar porters? Hahaha.
Furbert said 4 Bermudians.
guest workers do work behind bars….go visit the *** restaurants on a slow night.
and local owned bars are terrible as well. – paying their workers 15 an hour and expecting them to beg for tips….
Say it isn’t so!! The Green’s are Bermuda’s financial saviours!!
More JOB losses, and more to come soon, as the KEMH jobs come to an end more will be out of work. This is a most difficult time for most people. I understand how these folks are feeling. Hang in there, and keep your heads up high.
The UBPoba has promised us jobs, now only if that happens can we see a change around. Will this government continue to break another pre-election promise or will they put a Real Plan in place that will generate jobs? I am looking for REAL JOBS for the people of Bermuda.
Betty, these job losses have nothing to do with the present gov…. it a private enterprise that have made these decisions, not the OBA.
STOP DEFENDING THE INDENFENSIABL ACIONS OF THE UBPoba government…oooh dearest BLINDFAITHFAITHFULNESSLOYALISTFANS
Another broken election promise….2000 jobs by the UBPoba..REALLY go read the promises made pre 2013…or are you not able to recall or read..which one…
STOP DEFENDING THE “Indefensible ACTIONS” OF THE UBPoba government…oooh dearest “BLINDFAITHFAITHFULNESSLOYALISTFANS”
Another broken election promise….2000 jobs by the UBPoba..REALLY go read the promises made pre 2013…or are you not able to recall or read..which one…please do not present a weak debate about not all in one year…really..its getting old and sad
Not really sure what is going on with your double post and your almost unreadable first paragraph. My first reaction was that you were drunk when you posted. I’m sure you weren’t but at least try and put a reasoned argument forward.
I’m not an OBA or PLP supporter as I believe most politicians are a bunch of charlatans. I do remember the OBA saying they would create jobs, however, I don’t remember them saying that they would prevent all job losses
Chris Furbert and the BIU are the one’s that defend the indefensible. Just another business flush-out.
Betty.. by you refering to the OBA as the OBA/UBP shows your ignorance. PLP BROKE LOTS MORE PROMISES IN THERE 14 YEARS OF TERROR AND INCOMPETANCE
Bore off Betty, same post, every time.
Do not forget to collect accurate and correct data….lets not forget to count the number of job losses vs the number of jobs reassigned or taken away…against new jobs created, if any are actually created… give folks real analyzes and stop with the false data. lets do REAL data collection please..UBPoba…
you are making this up Betty, if not, then show us the proof
Speaking of job losses Betty – you offered “to list whom is on the UBPoba Friends and family contracts by this government” Can you please do so in detail, including the exact amounts paid, frequency, length of contract and complete counter party names?
Please also provide at least five examples of sustainable, workable and realistic PLP suggestions to improve our economy for 2014.
It’s gonna be soooo funny when PLP gets reelected and jobs continue to disappear. I can’t wait to read your comments then…
“It’s ok when we do it.”
Have not heard any suggestions from you or your beloved party that helped put us in this predicament. Do you not think that this is the communities problem or just the govt?
Betty the “UBPoba” promised nothing. Try again.
Dear Betty,
What chapter did I miss in School? I was never told or promised when I went out into the working community that if I got a job it would be mine for the rest of my life. I have always been able to find work, because I worked hard and did what I was hired to do and more!!! If you would put some of your efforts into teaching these young kids that just because you were hired to dust doesn’t mean you can’t sweep too!!! Show that you have self initiative and you will move up, there is not 1 employer that wants the hassle of a work permit IF there is an honest Bermudian to do the job.
If people don’t show willing to do that extra then why should anyone consider them for promotion if the opportunity arises. To prove your worth you show your worth. If you just do the basics then you are see as basic.
Greens are the landlords, Fairmont runs the hotel.
They just hired a HR Director. Dang.
There we go just increase Government “REVENUE” by more TAXISATION and we will have more redundancies.8,000 on the government payroll at $750Million per year for 25,000 working age Bermudians.
$120Million per year in interest for our DEBT so far as the interest rate will increase.
$300Million per year on average BORROWING.
Government is a Business government is Big Business and should be run like a Business.And not a “PIGGY BANK” for a bunch of “BLOOD-SUCKERS”
@ Blue bird,
Government cannot run like a normal business, and I believe you know this.
A normal business can close up shop when things are bad, but a Government cannot do that.
In a normal business, it mainly comes down to the numbers, but with a Goverment, they have to consider the numbers, and the impact it will have on it’s people. So there is a difference, and should be a difference.
Agreed.
But it also cannot run like it cannot go out of business. Because it definitely can.
Look no further than Barbados for a prime example. And then look at Greece, Spain, Italy et al for further confirmation of this fact.
In the end if you continue to spend more than you are taking in the piper will eventually come calling.
It can run effectively and efficiently to reduce the burden it places on Bermuda
I am not against Government but ask yourself????????????
Do we need or can we afford 8,000 on the “PUBLIC PAYROLL”
No and ermmm No.
there u go .
one high paid executive for 10 workers.
probably got rid of them to cover the directors wage.
Don’t be a doorknob. One HR = $120k, max.
10 people, minimum total cost of $50k each, likely more (if you include “sickies”, health insurance, etc) = $1 million.
Seems like pretty much a 90% reduction to me.
that leaves plenty room ,for a big bonus!
Wow PLP are so greedy….. Its about take take take…. Your name is more than enough….but your talk is very different.
please explain
Needs no explanation, if you don’t get it it’s because you don’t want to get it.
why single out the plp here,
……the oba and the ubp are exactly the same thing. most individuals are also greedy.
i am yet to understand, that part of your comment.
my talk is different, because it is my own.
it is a compilation of my experiences, and the things i see happening in real time(now).
it is without political affiliation, or membership in the elitst high rollers clubs.
rather, my voice is used on behalf of the suffering masses, the poor and needy, the infant and the elderly, the sick and the hungry, those that have no voice.
maybe this is what makes my talk different,
i actually speak on behalf of others, the nameless and forgotten.and i do not cower from
politics,big titles,big $$$,high preists or scorcerers.
i will continue to speak about, and fight against injustice whenever it rears its ugly head.
small axe, well sharp.
Talk is cheap, what have you done to help people?
exactly..what have you done/
I’m not portraying myself as a people saviour.
I do my bit physically…I wish I could do more.
by the way, a doorknob is a good thing. for without it, we could not open doors.
Reason for a door knob is to close doors. If there were no doorknob we could just push doors open, or turn the key and use that as a mechanism to pull the door open. Door knobs are to close doors, to pull the door to the door frame.
open doors close doors…whatever.
either way it is useful
Agreed !
The Greens own the property. Do they run it also?
Do we not all adjust our daily lives to suit the circumstances? If we don’t really NEED something do we not buy it if money is tight.
Labour is a commodity, like it or not. A business is not in the business of providing jobs. A business operates to hopefully provide a decent return to those who invested in it. Contrary to popular belief in certain quarters it is not a social service.
@Triangle Drifter did you tell this to your beloved UBPoba MPs and Premier, “A business is not in the business of providing jobs”…as they constantly say…”business will create jobs”, government will put the mechanisms in place to ensure this happens. So has the UBPoba been lying to the people of Bermuda? If business do not create jobs, than WHO…as you do not want government to hire individuals….Sounds like your confused too me….lol….
Here’s my take:
Businesses are NOT in the business of providing jobs, but in the making of profit. Demand is what ‘creates’ a job, which exists as long as that demand exists.
Production creates demand. It is therefore in everyone’s best interest economically to encourage production (i.e. profit) so that there is enough demand so there can be more employment.
The only sustainable way a government can ‘create’ jobs is to put ‘mechanisms’ in place that encourage production. That is what the ‘UBPoba’ are referring to.
Am I wrong?
Sounds like you’re confused between to and too. Are you Bermudian yet, or at least the spouse of? I can’t figure out why you’re concerned with our affairs unless you’re simply a pathological liar.
Betty , do you think jobs fall off the magic pony that flies around the clouds sprinkling fairy dust ? If the govt were to hire more, who would pay their wages? Oh that magic pony…..you need help Betty (plp) Trump.
Sorry Betty. My mistake. I did not word it properly for those who have limited understanding of how the world works.
I should have used the word ‘paycheck’ instead of ‘job’. Given the amount of time that you spend trolling the blogs I am certain that you do not have a job though you may be collecting a paycheck from some unsuspecting employer, unless of course, your job is to troll the blogs & insert a pre stamped out response here & there.
@ Triangle Drifter,
I agree with what you are saying with regard to business, however some of these people who were let go were Bermudians, while the company chose to keep the foreign workers (lover level jobs, I’m not speaking on the management jobs).
They live in dorms.
Locals live…
‘if we don’t really NEED something do we not buy it when money is tight’?
actually, if we don’t really need something, we cannot have it, as we cannot afford what we really DO need.for alot of us money is always tight.
at least you admit, that business is self-serving. providing jobs is just a means to an end.
unlike kangoocar and many others, that tout the ‘job creators’ bs, as if it is a badge of honor.
I am HONORED you are thinking of me! But yes I do believe it is a badge of honor to be an employer, any employer and I don’t care who they are should be honored for taking the risk and if by some lucky chance they can afford to pay people, they should feel honored!! This is something that all those that have never taken a chance will simply not understand it!! Anyway today is not the rite day to get in a back and forth over BS, I actually feel saddened for those that lost their jobs because it is no easy task to find another one in this economy!! Most employers are feeling just as much pain!!!!
you can feel honored all you like.
‘should be honored for taking the risk’?
why? is all the money not enough, to satisfy your ego?
and all your bs, does not change the fact that business is self-serving.or to be more precise, you as a businessman, are self-serving.choosing to run a business in order to make profits for yourself.
the fact that others work for you, to help u achieve this goal is indeed, something that you should be thankful for. not honored for. it is your means, to your ends.
i am all for working hard to achieve in life for yourself.
what i can”t stand a pompous dictator, uh… employer, or job creator, riding around on his high horse. showcasing his arrogance among the peasants, whilst belittling their workers contribution, to their own success.
and just for good measure you like most other employers continue to cry out in pain, to make it seem as if your not making out like a bandit!
got an issue? try some tissue.
Oh crap, now I have to deal with this nonsense??? Let me tell you straight up!! I started with very little and built a business that now employs only Bermudians!!! I reached a point all by myself with NO headaches and earned a very good living!! Then I got this crazy idea that I could make a little more by growing the business and employing people?? Yes I make a good living but could get very close all by myself without the headaches of employees!!! You have no idea what any person like myself goes through when you have employees, we become baby sitters!! Why don’t you try it??? Let me tell you in one sentence! I could earn almost as much without the headaches, so why do I need employees??? I do it to create employment and revenue for the government!!! So until you actually take a chance in life and try it, STFU!!! And too the other imbecile that was questioning if my employees are part time and do I pay health insurance etc!! I give full benefits and as the payroll tax office told me last summer,” you are squeaky clean” I pay my bills on time every time!! The first month I can’t, layoffs will start!!! Unless YOU or any of the employees want to pay them for me??? Yeah right!! That will happen????
see what i mean?
this fool places no value on his employees!
at least, he is not alone there.
i sure hope those employees see you for what you are, and find a new job.
or, since you are such a big man who doesn’t need anyone else, why don’t you fire them?
oh yeah, you endure headaches, and apparently baby sit your employees, just to create jobs and create revenue for government..all this for pennies more than you could make all by yourself.
always got to be about you, huh?
ps..you told me in two sentences, hope you are not controlling the books.
Umm!! A comma does not end a sentence?? Hopefully you are not an English teacher?? Also, this may come as shock to you but my employees all love me!! Go figure?? It might have something to do with they get paid every week with no hesitation also they happen to know I am firm but fair!! I never let BS get in the way of the real facts!! If I did I would have been out of business long ago!!!
Tell them to read your recent posts.
More than enough; Have you ever held a job? Kangoocar makes total sense?
are you his wife
You could have always responded to the persons…my post but you didn’t…why? Because if you responded to the questions I would know who you are based on your name and condescending attitude. You can be “squeaky clean”(interesting term
) all you like, remember not illegal, just unethical? There are such things as loopholes which im pretty sure you are well aware of. When you decide to answer those questions you obviously read and ignore for an unknown reason I’ll be able to tell you if in fact your employees really do love you or if you are simply egotistical pric. Remember this is a small island and people talk.
*Crickets*…again.
“as a businessman, are self-serving.choosing to run a business in order to make profits for yourself.” and as an employee you are working for the love of the job? Not self serving in order to make money for yourself?
if you can read, you should browse over the previous comments. there you will see how kc claims to endure headaches, while having to baby-sit employees, for the sole purpose of providing jobs. not for the purpose of making more money, for himself. liar!
i, on the other hand, said nothing of the sort.
i will now say that i work to make money for myself, and this too is self-serving. fortunately, i do not have to belittle others, or put myself on a pedestal
to make my money.
I’d rather job satisfaction than killing myself to make someone else rich. I’ve had both situations, one more than another.
Our government gives concessions to hotels to assure that jobs will be provided for Bermudians that is our local tax dollars that are being negotiated, we are the STAKEHOLDERS!! lets not get it twisted, doing business in Bermuda is not free the same as in Dubai, U.s.a, France,Jamaica, Africa, luxenburg ect..The hotels should not be receiving concessions if they are not prepared to work with Bermudians.
How many were Ex pats and how many where Bermudians?
4 Bermudians according to Furbert
wat positions?
Before anyone criticizes the hotel and its owners, has anyone thought that MAYBE these lay-offs are a result of the current construction on the hotel? That being, if rooms are not available, the current amount of staff members is not viable? Just a thought.
Or could it be a sign of a lack of confidence in the Government and a sign that Bermuda is going to hell in a handbasket? Could it be that someone in Government was rude to the Greens? Of course not, because those things ONLY apply when this stuff happens under the PLP. Under the OBA its just business. Wonder if you all think the Greens should still be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Point of information. The hotel is run by Princess Hotels, not by the Green family.
and this matters why? Either these guys are the saviours of Bermuda through their direct interest in, renovation and running of the hotel or they’re not. You cannot slice and dice their responsibilities just to fit your narrative. You make it sound like they read about this on BerNews like we did.
Their responsibility is not in operation of the hotel. That is not slicing and dicing. That’s how it is.
They help Bermuda when they invest in renovating and upgrading the hotel. They are in the middle of a major renovation right now. That is good for Bermuda.
They never ran the hotel.
I’m not sure what is so hard to understand.
Ok, I was nice for a couple of hours and now I am done!!! You really are a simpleton that doesn’t know his @@s from his elbow!!!!! hmmmmm, you are an imbecile!! The Greenes are the landlords!!! And why would they know what Fairmont is doing??? As long as they get paid their rent that is all they need too, and probably did know!!! Landlords of commercial properties are NOT involved with the day to day operations of the tenant!!!! It really is sad that after 14 yrs of a plp government, the only thing that was accomplished was their support based was dumbed down to the point of hmmmmm????? Get a life champ!!!!!!
What is up with with the Furberts in Bermuda ?
Lavern,Wayne and Chris ? why are you all so angry ?
There is some meds that you can take to help your anger… Life can be a beautiful thing…
Mate. It wasnt the greens who let the eployees go. It is unfortunate more people lost jobs but people cant blame the Greens. Thr greens are all about Bermudians and are loveley people. Its the fairmont business that let these people go. Things will get worse before they get better. Give the OBA some time. Things arent accomplished instantly. ObA needs to balance making tough decisions and keeping the public happy. Give them time!!
Sorry, but this is common when a firm/business is bought out.
New owners = new vision = new structure.
A lot different when compared to existing businesses who choose to just up and leave despite being under the same ownership and retaining a presence for a considerable amount of time. And yes the decisions of politicians do play a great role in these decisions. One has to look no futher than the ill advised payroll tax increase in 2010 (during the middle of a recession). There is a reason why this hike was reversed a simple 12 months later.
Also, while I feel bad for these individuals, what about the dozens, if not more, of Bermudians which are now gainfully employed due to the $70mn renovations along with the soon to be constructed beach/spa facility at the old Sonesta? These individuals will now be employed due to the Greens splashing of their cash.
The Greens are not involved in the day to day operation of the hotel. They are landlords.
The Greens may not be involved in the daily operation of the hotel; but they are ULTIMATELY responsible as the owners, who hired Fairmont to manage their property. Fairmont management answer to the Greens who ULTIMATELY call the shots and suffer any fallout!
Lay offs and redundancies are not one in the same…be clear these are redundancies, package to leave with no option to be called back when the hotel gets busy again.
Well that’s all the more reason to keep the Bermudians n stop paying for contracts.
I thought all the redundancies were supposed to cease after DEcember 17, 2012.
Craig where are you???
Come out come out wherever you are!!!
OBA really need to Step Up or Step Off
Funny you never said that when the plop party was driving us all into the ditch???
I sure did
This is atrocious. The O.B.A.’s promises are riddled with an abundance of LIES. Wake up! Or is it too late?
I DO NOT TRUST THEM. They are bent on destruction of certain types of people. Can’t the masses see that there are vast imbalances of unfairness, clear racial inequalities, and institutionalized racism. Specific job losses clearly shows the RAW picture.
What the F does this event have to do with the OBA Racist AH
you cannot be both black/white you either have melinan or not! It is very simple and also non negotiable..decide or choose your seat and sit down!
@black Africa, I have a suggestion!! Why don’t you move to your name sake and see how that works out for you??? I am sure you should be able to go back to Africa and find a high paying job and all your problems will be solved!! Tell you what, I will pay for the one way ticket for you, so you have no excuse as to why you can’t go!! You can thank me later!!!
@kangaroocar—what do you mean go back, all black/melinated people in the west are indigenous Moorish descendants and we are all on our own property indo-europeans are the ones running all over the world as though someone told them that they own it! so called Black people are the only ones entitled to this and other lands, you know where you came from and thats where maybe you should go back! CITIZENs are not indigenous people..We were in the Americas and also here in the Bermuda ISles who do you think left the hogs in case someone came here and was hungry!!!!
What?! You can’t just re-write history. I don’t like to be rude so I don’t know what else to say besides you are completely wrong and I’m far from a fan of Kangoocar. Magically appeared on an island created by volcanic activity and everyone just left, but left hogs incase anyone found said island and got hungry?! WTF GTFOH.
@come correct—-I know my story and yes history was already re written to make certain people look good, at least thats what winston churchill admitted that he would do because if history wasn’t re written to make so called whites look good we would not be living how we are today.. and yes the hogs were left here, i know lots of books were burnt to try to cover up a lot of history but the truth is what it is and just because white people are a latent group of people and dont want to accept their Creator doesn’t change the facts!
@More than enough
Spoken like a none buisness owner.. havent got a clue..SMH
Spoken like a true (non) genious.
For your information black africa… the oba govt is made up of 90% blacks including the premier your comments about the oba and institutionalized racism is way off base.. get a life !
@WTF
WTF are you talking about? Where do you get the figure that government is 90% black? Please enlighten us. I think you really need to try working that out again or maybe you just really suck at statistics.
Is it possible to lay off Chris Furbert?
Furbutt.If I am a bartender so I don’t have to get ice, restock, just pour drinks and be surly and get paid and an auto 17+% grab. GET A GRIP DW. Every job I have EVER done it was a TEAM effort. This is typical BERMUDIAN union mentality. Not my job. i need someone to get my condiments for me, cut a lemon NO WAY.You need to see the REAL world. Thisn is why nothing gets done. I do support unions to a degree but NOT at this level.
As someone who has done a lot of bar tending work, albeit 20+ years ago, the whole idea of bar porters is laughable to me. We all had to do the grunt work too as well as serving the drinks.
Derrick…your comments are spot on!
Businesses cannot keep paying one trick pony workers that only do this and that , they will understand when they open their own business, the only thing they can’t do is what the PLP premier Cox said is put your shoulder to the wheel work hard save that little big of money you can for a rainy day if you don’t like that open your own business and hire as many folks as you can to do this and that’ see how long you will survive . It is all common sense really the lazy hazy days of Bermuda are dead and gone in short wake up folks be the best you can at what you do or step aside and let someone who wants to work do that job .
Thank you really, I find it amazing that we still have people of the that mind set?? Actually heard furby on the news tonight denouncing any thought of a bar tender getting his own ice??? There lies the problem in Bermuda?? When I started my business, I DID EVERYTHING!! And it am still willing to do it too this day!!! Just makes me sick at the mentality of many on this island, I now have trouble feeling sorry for any of them!!!!
Also if you just do the same think eg pour drinks, it gets incredibly boring….You need other things especially when it is quiet to make the day go faster and feel good about yourself and like you’ve worked hard. Otherwise you are wasting hours of your life just standing and waiting for something to do….
Having worked in a few countries and at least 7 states in the US, my only response is that Bermuda is not unique in this regard. I’m a little tired off these stupid comments about Bermuda and Bermudians.
I want to start a business and NOT make money, can you help me Mr Furburt
Very interesting comments by Mr. Furbert regarding the inflexibility of the union regarding the roles and responsibilities assigned to unionized employees. As an example, he noted a barman would be unable/unwilling to restock ice as that is considered the job of a bar porter. Really?
Unlike in the real world where all hands are on deck and employees and employers are fully expected to multitask, union employees only want to stay within the narrowly defined box of their negotiated job description.
How on earth is this considered practical or efficient? The union’s intractability and willful obstinance is a hallmark of their reputation for narrow mindededness and disrespect for employers who risk their investment dollars.
The BIU had better reasses their priorities or they’ll soon find themselves jobless and irrelevant.
If a barman refuses to restock ice, in my view he should lose his job as well. Replace them with employees who actually want to do the job.
As a certified, qualified Bartender, we are not required to get ice, would you expect a Nurses Associate to administer medication? Or a carpenter to do the job of a mason even if they are on the same job sites! slavedrives beware lest you get your turn sooner than you think!
I think Mr Furbert has been watching too much Downton Abbey
Sounds like union CB workers who are let go. I bet according to the CBA they can only do 1 thing so as businesses change so do job desc.
Betty Trump, you are a fool
She’s more than a fool. She’s a pee l pee nut with loose screws.
More PLP fallout!
@kangoocar
Well said.. i agree!!!!!
Thanks WTF, unbelievable how some think??? Those types actually listen to betty?? Never dawning on them that there is many of them, if you scroll down this thread alone there is 2 of them, I guess they haven’t figured out that a designated pic comes up for each of us! We have two different pics for the Bettie’s here, LOL
The few remaining BIU members should go on a general strike. And if there’s only one member left he can always sing “United I stand, divided I fall”. “I shall not I shall not be moved”.
Come on BIU, show us how powerful you are! You should DEMAND everyone gets a management job at $100k. Chris where are you?
Time for Bermudians to expand what they reach for in work. There is no long term security in construction and hospitality. Time to push our awareness of employment to the medical fields, reinsurance and technology. With limited land space and the high costs of running hotels why do we continue to act like construction and hospitality is the only field of employment for Bermudians. We are so stuck in past employment trends. We should be demanding our schools prepare our kids for the real employment opportunities and it is not local costruction or hospitality.
Where is the Bermuda retraining program at Fairmont. 3 bar porters who could be training for another department are out the door and Fairmont have work permits pending.
Really!!!!
There is room to negotiate….Furby knows his CBA is watertight (hence his calm demeanor) The position of in-suite Captain is a thing of the past. But the hotel should have offered these 2 another employment of equal standing. The bar-porters as well should be offered another position. The bartenders should be offered an increase in wage for doing additional duties…everybody happy?
The organization of hotel departments today is very different to that of 20, 30 and 40 years ago. The position of bar porters is a redundant position. Chris Furbert acknowledged it when he said this was the last hotel in Bermuda with this position. With all the additional associated costs in employing staff, the luxury of a bar porter position is one that can no longer be afforded. Likewise In Room Service Captains. If a person is working behind a bar and a guest asks for a drink, the guest cannot be told that its not his job but the bartenders, its reflects badly on the hotel property. You are either a bartender or you are not. Its a fact modern day life. Mr. Furbert should understand it. If this is the last hotel with this position, how are all the other bars being operated. Perhaps the communication of this redundency could have been discussed and communicated better.
This is so wrong on many levels. I patronize this establishment very often and I am very sad to see these workers lose their jobs. But hey wait a minute, just about every server in Heritage Court is a foreigner and the bar staff is majority Bermudian. Why not let some of the wait staff go home and the bar porters be trained for those jobs as a kind of job transition. I dont understand why this couldnt happen!!!
I think what we are missing is people are now out of work.Families may or maynot be able to pay their bills. Can’t we put ourselves in their shoes? The comments that talk about Chris Furbert have nothing to do with the bottom line. All the people who are complaining about Chris doing his job, can do that because they all have jobs, for now! Bermudians are becoming so callous.
Its 2014 the BIU has a voice, not a very Eloquent one but that’s all they have….a voice
Well done OBA- fulfilling your promise to find jobs I see!
How can anyone think that this is the fault of the Government? This is a business and if they have no need for the staff, the government can’t force the hotel to keep the staff. The hotel, just like all hotels in Bermuda at this time, is not making a profit. So why would they keep bar staff if there is no one to serve?
I bet you all want a shiney new hotel with a Casino though, don’t you?
Do your comments apply to redundancies, business closures and other negative decisions made before december 2012?
Easy.
Restrictive legislation, payroll tax increases in the middle of our worst recession (with no consultation)and generally nasty rhetoric aimed at the one last pillar of our economy.
Over the past twenty years I have been made redundant three times. In the IB world, the boss call you in, gives you a check, thanks you for your years of service, and escorts you out the door. This all takes place in the space of about ten minutes with NO warning and I have seen it happen to many.
It’s not a nice feeling, but there is not much one can do about it.
Sometimes life is not fair Chris, and kicking and screaming gets you no where.
What I see is five more of my fellow Bermudians made unemployed in their own country.
My fellow Bermudians we are not helpless in this state of affairs; we don’t have to spend our money with those who hold us in such contempt. I am not a super Bowl fan; but if I were it’s no way would I be spending any money at the Princess hotel super bowl party. The BIU; the PLP; Bermudian churches all hold banquets at these hotels. This is the way they want to treat Bermudian workers; we should cut them off; we should not be spending our money with them. This is my policy; it I identify any Bermudian business who is anti-Bermudian; don’t want to hire Bermudians; that hold us in contempt; than we should not spend our money with them.They want to hurt us economically we can hurt them right back. I already have two restaurants on my list who I have identified as been anti-Bermudian; anti-Worker. These will not get my dollars. We are not helpless my fellow Bermudians; those who do not treat us right should not enjoy economic relations with us.
He said 4 Bermudians. Pay attention.
It is apparent that the management of the hotel trampled all over the Collective Bargaining Agreement and did not a first consult with the union regarding the redundancies and second speak with the employees remaining to see if there was any issues with the additional duties.
We all know hotels this time of year are slow and historically lay-offs occur until the season improves. Yes, there may be jobs that are redundant and management has the right to manage and restructure for a better business (yes profits). But this is clear case of ignoring the CBA. I do not believe this is the first time or the last time for this management team. The union and the workers should have offence to this. Let me ask the general public a couple of questions?
What if there were no employment laws and your boss/company made you redundant without any notice or opportunity to work elsewhere in the company, especially where there are expat workers employed. How would you feel?
You were the individual left in the company that just made redundancies and your employer now said to you, do the work of the people we just fired for no difference in pay (remember you did not receive a raise in the last 6 years). How would you feel knowing this company was quick to let people go because there were no laws or CBA protecting you? You go ahead shut your mouth and do the work because you have commitments and hope you’re not next. This is how we are living today.
Someone said to me once. “We have to balance revenues, against expenses and guest experience.” True enough. However, when guest experiences suffer you have fewer guests, fewer guest mean fewer workers and the workers remaining are disgruntled, hence even fewer guest. Great job managing!
“What if there were no employment laws and your boss/company made you redundant without any notice or opportunity to work elsewhere in the company, especially where there are expat workers employed. How would you feel?”
BUT THERE ARE EMPLOYMENT LAWS !!!!!!!!
If you feel too much work is being put upon you that you can’t handle or that you are being treated unfairly you LEAVE and get a job where you are happier or you can speak to your manager/boss and discuss the situation and either at the approprite time negotiate a better wage or a better opportunity of promotion.
There are also employment Tribunals available.
10 people made redundant in one go.
A new HR taken on.
The GM gets shifted to another hotel.
somethng SMELLS bad here.
I for one will not be spending anything at any of their hotels.
Not a big fan of this particular Union and/or Mr. Furbert, but the Princess should’ve undertaken more dialogue with all employees involved before announcing their decision.
Good luck to the people (Bermudians and non-Bermudians) who lost their jobs.
Probably can’t because of the union.
17% for YOUR convenience!
If those at the top were willing to share the wealth a bit more, there would be a lot less unemployed. But that would never happen, for to do that they would have to go against their very nature.
There is no way you can drive through tucker’s town, and then drive through middle town, and honestly believe we are all born equal.
The wealthy exploit the poor. It’s been that way since the beginning of time. Based on the US model, which we all love so dearly, the average CEO makes 380 times that of the average worker. In 1980 it was 42 times. As unemployment rises, so does the CEO’s pay package. Bermuda isn’t much different. Just take a drive through our more affluent neighborhoods. We aren’t all suffering, trust me.
Don’t look to government for answers, they’re in bed with most of the “Job Creators”. I think we need to change that moniker anyway to “wealth creators”, because that’s their primary goal. Creating jobs is nothing more than an afterthought.
Hiw about you share the stress, where you never stop thinking about your work, where 50 peoples livelyhoods depend on decisions you make. You go spend the 1000′s upon 1000′s of hours studying, taking exams whislt working to survive. Those folks at the top earn their pay. You clock off at 5 and are free.
Your statement sweets me. That what you big shots think. We knock off at 5 and then are free. So, you fat cats envy our lives then? Oh how lucky we are. No stress, no fuss, just easy 9-5 living whilst you poor execs are up nights stressing about how to protect our jobs and keep the company afloat.
Next time I see my mother I must remind her of how fortunate she was that she didn’t make those millions, and the unbearable stress that comes with it. Making peanuts, working three jobs just to pay rent, not being able to travel for 15 years, having no place to call home, struggling to provide bread, all whilst raising her kids sounds so much sweeter, now that you’ve opened my eyes.
Next time I’m in the less fortunate neiborhoods, I must let the common folk know how lucky they are. Perhaps you can join me. Forget Bernews, let’s shout it from the rooftops! Remind those uneducated, lazy 9-5 ers how good they got it while those poor over stressed and overworked execs are carrying the load. Meet me in middle town for 5:30 today, just when the lazy bums are coming home from work. We’ll enlighten them together.
exactly
my exactly comment is @sign up
Now remember the Golden Rule.
Our Government is HUGE (8000) on the Payroll Our DEBT is HUGE ($2.324Billion) Our TAXES ARE HUGE never mind the price of ELECTRICTY.
We have (10,000) work permits so SHUT THE HELL UP,go an get some exsperence or training and take one of the jobs you would like to do.
Otherwise just keep MOANING and COMPLAINING.
now more gone @coral beach…they must’ve got the email too.
48 hour threat….waiting…still waiting…still waiting.
Guess brother Chris figured out he has no leg to stand on.
Advice…get a job, work your a$$ off and you will keep your job!