Labour Dispute At Riddell’s Bay
Staff members of the Riddell’s Bay Golf & Country Club in Warwick have walked off the job and are protesting outside the property this afternoon [Mar.8] after a fellow staff member was fired.
This is the second day of the industrial action, which was predicated by the termination of Yvonne Bradshaw from the food and beverage department.
Speaking on behalf of the staff, a BIU representative said that the treatment of the general manager to all the employees as a whole is an issue, saying this did “not come about yesterday or last week, it has been ongoing for the last 3.5 years since he has been here.”
It was alleged that the manager “gives warnings to Bermudian staff for unjustified reasons, and not guest workers.” It was also alleged has a “lack of respect” for staff, does not pay staff sick pay, threatened a bartenders job and also said that staff are provided with HIP not major medical.
“When the sister was terminated, it wasn’t just her rights that were stepped on, the Union’s rights were stepped on as well,” said the BIU’s Louis Somner.
Riddell’s Bay General Manager Dennis Paul issued a statement this afternoon saying, “Riddell’s Bay Golf and Country Club, Ltd. are currently involved in a labour dispute with the Bermuda Industrial Union regarding a former Food and Beverage employee who was terminated within the probationary period of employment.
“Riddell’s Bay Golf and Country Club, Ltd. have a good faith relationship with the Bermuda Industrial Union which has existed for several years and we look forward to resolving this matter in accordance with customary and standard practices.
“We are of course disappointed that certain employees have taken it upon themselves to cease working prior to the completion of the customary grievance procedures, however we will continue to meet with the Labour Relations Officer and Bermuda Industrial Union Representatives in order to reach a favourable resolution in a timely and satisfactory manner for all parties concerned.”
I love the Sista’s sign. You just ‘no’ she used to work for ‘goverment’.
Sista, you’re out of school now. The correct spelling is principle not principal.
LMAO!!!!!!!!
That’s one smart cookie! I suppose her grammatical errors can be blamed on the UBP for failing to adequately educate her.
Maybe LaVerne wrote it.
Exactly!! It’s hilarious when people like Laverne and this lady in the photo announce their lack on intelligence in writing!! And this lady marches around with her IQ on a sign above her head. Hilarious!
I guess you “lack on intelligence” too?
No use arguing on this because they’ll probably type back with the bullogna that they meant to put on instead of the word of to add emphasis.
@ Truth Just incase it isn’t clear enough I know I spelled bullogna wrong & that was to add emphasis to the bull droppings of your post.
A Principal, short for principal value, refers to a value of high importance. A rule or doctrine would alternatively be referred to as a principle.
I can’t say that I can tell from her sign whether she meant to refer to a value or a doctrine, but either one would convey the appropriate sentiment for me without having to second guess her spelling.
I hope your enhanced spelling and grammar have not interfered with your comprehension too much, because her message is quite clear.
You’re straight up incorrect. Principal Value is a financial term and is completely irrelevant.
Not completely true. It can be used as ‘Dude’ mentions.
Staff grats***
@Rard. I disagree, sometimes evern if you do your best, managers can be biotches. (I spelled that wrong on purpose) and I also disagree that the sign is not the point. Even if you are going to protest, correct spelling is the only way to go, cause you just look stupid.
@proudbermudian, I agree….”sometimes”. Not “all the time”.
“No The Facts”
Too funny.
I think she actually has ” ‘No’ the facts”, indicating she is making a statement like they said “No” to the facts or something like that. It’s still ambiguous. The “principal” thing is inexcusable though.
It can’t be an authorized strike Chris and the BIU choir aren’t there singing the BIU Fight Song!!
We shall not, we shall not be moved x 2
Just like a tree, planted by the waaauuhhhter
Weee shall not be moved!
Yah vere’s DingBat and his orange bloody jacket .
Shouldn’t we “know” the facts.
Before you start running your mouth.Get your facts straight first.I didn’t write the words on picket sign. So quick to run your damn mouths.
Sorry, I didn’t no.
Yeah but you carried it…
yeah, all the more reason why I’m at a loss for words as to why you’re so willing to ‘own’ the sign
You grammer stil terribel
You didn’t write the sign? If you knew it was spelled wrong and that it would make you look like an idiot, why did you march around with it above your head? Maybe one of the guest workers (whose 1st language is not English) wrote it for you?? Oh wait, they couldn’t have written it – - they were too busy WORKING!
Maybe you should close your smart mouth and open your dam eyes and read the sign and check the spelling before you make yourself look like an idiot. Like some of the reporters who don’t proof read their reports before they go on air. I’m just saying. Maybe Chris Furbert AKA. ‘Elma Fudd’ weally weally wed it first….
Attacking the brothers and sisters for their literacy, or lack of it, is little more than a personal attack rather than focusing on the reasons for their action, which is the more important issue. And if you don’t know what the reasons for their action are, drive over there and talk with them! I’m sure they’ll be happy to inform you.
And even if you take issue with the literacy, then go help out with some adult education classes – there is an amazing number of our people who have trouble reading and writing, and teasing them for it is about the last thing that they need.
Don’t take these comments too hard J like you’ve type they’ve judged before knowing. This just shows their prejudice towards certain others. I bet most of those who have posted above use their spell check before clicking submit on a post.
I’ve seen some of these posters comments before with grammatical errors but don’t call them on it because that’s just petty.
“Those who occupy their minds with small matters, generally become incapable of greatness.” François de La Rochefoucauld
Maybe the BIU could put on some kind of remedial math and English classes for the workers.
Oh, silly me. They spent all their money on themselves and left nothing for the workers.
THANK YOU….
Starling, you are so right…we need to focus on why they took this action..
I read that an employee who was on probation…period of time where employer can decide not to continue the employment of the individual, decided not to continue the employment of the individual. I’m very happy for someone to identify any employment law breach, or bring me up to speed on why the strike action is legal or justified.
There was an extension of the probation that the Employer imposed without the Union being consulted. What law are you referencing? Once Certification is given, the Trade Union Act 1965 is the administrative Act in place that gives the Union sole and exclusive bargaining rights on behalf of the workers. .????
I AGREE J!!! These people are trying to earn an honest living to support their families…LEGALLY!!! They are paying taxes. They are contributing to the local economy by spending their LEGAL earnings on the Island. I got the sign’s message the first time I read it!! Question is, WHY DIDN’T YOU??? Why don’t some of you that are more concerned with the OBVIOUS subliminal message of the “NO” sign use some of that egotism on FIGHTING CRIME IN BERMUDA??? Because in case you haven’t noticed, your “ONCE” beautiful Island is bleeding to death!!! Fix your OWN house before you try to fix someone Else’s!!!
Know means know. For the amoumt of money these employees pay for the union, you would think theywould set up some kind of spellcheck for signs being held. Rediculous.
Check your own spelling it is ridiculous not rediculous. I doubt that they have a masters in english but we all knew what they meant. I guess you forgot to use your own spellcheck.
LOL…
Im glad you get point! Thanks for the english lesson. (clapping)
Does it take a masters in english to KNOW the difference between NO and KNOW. We certainly are in trouble… Or is it trabull?
No, it does not take a Masters in English to know the difference, does it take one to know that there should be a question mark at the end of your first QUESTION? Get it!? Stop judging others, no one is perfect!
“Management needs to stop…”
But I digress. I know the feeling to work for a tyrant. I’ve worked for many over the years. I don’t doubt that these people are being treated unfairly. But why oh why is it always a walkout when there is a problem? With the economic landscape the way it is in Bermuda and around the world, isn’t there a better way to settle an issue? People are being thrown out on the street and are so desperate for any kind of work. By harassment from locals, I was forced off this Island and will be unemployed in a few weeks. I’d kill for any decent paying job, even if it meant putting up with an a** for a boss, at least until I was lucky enough to find something else. You walk out on a job like this in any other country, you don’t walk back in to another one for quite some time.
Only in Bermuda.
There’s no general custer here & this isn’t little bighorn. You’re not forced off a land where you have no right to abode you’re deported off that land.
When you got your permit you knew it wasn’t a Bermudian passport. If you didn’t plan ahead it’s no one else’s fault.
Yes people are being thrown out on the street and are desperate for any kind of work. In Bermuda these people you mention are called locals.
Are these the people I would be dealing with if I played golf there?
Wow, not very friendly looking, I’d rather stay away.
Hon most of these people work on the grounds and are decent hardworking people. I think they have their serious face on.
A lot of people look as “friendly” as this all the time. The days when Bermudians were universally friendly have long gone. Now it’s cool to have a permanent ‘Tude.
Look at the state of some of these characters
Oh my Lord.
We now have the Communist Stalinist peoples commenting here.
You know an election is comming soon.
Could it be that things could catch a fire?
Scotsmen with sycils.
Bernews… Thanks for the heads up . I’ll be there with my papers from the old hotel college applying for that damn job tomorrow …! !
Within the probationary period, you can be terminated for any reason. This would be like management taking legal action for an employee giving a two weeks notice
Rob, do you only see what you want to see. The manager is unfairly putting Bermudians “BACK” on probation. How long has Ms. Bradshaw been working there, is something I would like to know?
only started recently she was on probation… maybe her past is catching up with her
wth! If it’s not already bad that the lady holds her sign up proudly…what also throws me off is how no one in her “camp”‘ told her to change that bleddy sign!! This is just sad on all levels! You mean to tell me they all saw that sign and thought it looked okay???
I’m done!
You probably break out your red pen to correct the spelling on the Froot Loops box too huh…
Do you correct your partner when they text saying they luv u?
Do you refuse to buy Creme eggs for the kids during Easter?
LMAO!!
They’d dehydrate if they ran a marathon where all the water stops had WAT-AAH!
Creme is correct spelling.
Creme is a french word adapted into the english language with it misspelled. To be spelled correctly in english the word is cream in french the spelling has an accent on the first e of creme. So its not only been misspelled it has been acceptable to misspell the french word & pronounce it improperly. If you want to argue the point go to a french person & argue while they tell you, “va te faire enculé!” Just goes to show the arrogance of english to take a foreign word & claim it as their own & then to misspell it & say its correct. Maybe Merriam-Webster will have the noun café spelled cafe next with the definition, “a usually small and informal establishment serving various refreshments (as coffee); broadly : restaurant” without any direction to the correct spelling as they still do at the moment.
A lot of you are talking nonsense. These individuals are very hard working and this was only a matter of time as they are correct in what they are standing for. Anyone who has been at this Club, whether to eat or play golf would have witnessed first hand how this GM speaks to his staff. It is demeaning and disgraceful!
Believe me, I generally do not support this type of action but well done for finally standing up!!
Demeaning and disgraceful? I have personally worked under this GM. He is extremely encouraging to Bermudians to advance themselves in the hospitality industry, so much to the point where some foreign staff have been disgruntled at the opportunities he has given to young local men.
You may be thinking of the wrong Manager! This guy talks down to everyone and is very arrogant in his delivery. But maybe he just wants people, especially Bermudians to succeed.
How can any manager expect good work ethics from employees through condescendence? Its almost impossible to focus on work while being talked down to.
Alex G mmmmmmmm I dont think so
This manager they are referring to is a gentlemen. Instead of blaming everyone else for their own malaise, They should look at themselves and their productivity more closely before going in front of the cameras looking like a bunch clowns with misspelled placards and blaming the guest worker. It goes back to this Bermudian sense of entitlement which Sir John swan talked about eloquently yesterday.
Whatever you say DP! LOL!!!
Maybe if Sir John realized IB should be entitled low rent for bringing their business to Bermuda they wouldn’t be going to Cayman where it’s $64 a square foot. Then again, maybe he feels he has a sense of entitlement to charge whatever rent he wants.
Do you think someone shouldn’t be entitled to be treated with respect if not a spelling b champ. Especially if the job entitled to them is bar tending, or other Country Club jobs not grammar teacher.
Besides do you want a grammar teacher mixing your dark ‘n stormy?
I think it is interesting that people are going on about the sign. Listen to the video! The real issue is the unfair working conditions and a general manager with a controlling dictatorial attitude. A spelling mistake in a sign means little about whether someone works hard and deserves to be treated a certain way. And for the record her probation period ended a while before she was fired. She was fired right after she shared her departments concerns with the union which has happened in other cases. This has been going on for a while with the general manager using tactics to stall the negotiation process which is why it has come to this point. So a good relationship with the union is a load of bull! If those workers had not taken a stand he would have stalled again and again. And some of the staff (local and guest workers) in the dining room is not there on the front-line because of his scare tactics of losing their jobs but hopefully they will benefit from the efforts of those that have come out.
I know someone that used to work at that club and she left because of the GM. I don’t think their concerns have anything to do with a sense of “entitlement” but more to do with wanting to earn an honest day’s wage and to be treated with respect by the GM.
I support Club Management and have seen first hand how mediocre the service can be at Riddell’s Bay. I’ve been told by a staff member that “sick” days are a constant source of frustration – and coincidentally sick days tend to be most prevalent just before or after public holidays. Riddell’s Bay is losing money and service levels need to improve. Get real or everyone will be out of a job.
Have the Mgt. hire experienced persons. No experienced persons are prepared to tolerate that style of Mgt in 2012. Hence the mediocre service due to the hiring of inexperienced persons.
Maybe with the amount of money that the union takes in weekly, you could set up training for bermudians so you would no longer have to represent mediocre workers. Stand by your people and feel confident that they are well equiped to work in 2012. Again with the mkney uour org. recieves frim the bermudian people it seems like the least you could do to give back!
The rules in the employment act have been put in place to sort certain employee problems out. Unlike other ACTS on this island there are no gray areas in it so if the Club Management took time out to read it they would be able to do their job more fairly. There’s a section about sick days in the act that the manager can use. If the problem is with sick days before or after public holidays all the manger needs to do is make a rule that a doctors note must always be present for these situations.
It’s always amusing when managers blame staff for the downfall of a company. It’s kind of like if our premier blamed the Bermuda workforce for the downfall of the island.
Wait, bad customer service in BDA? Surly you can’t be serious!
the General Manager may be short on diplomacy but save for a few expats in the dining room the rest stand around scratching themselves and in the real world would not last a week….tired….big time…
What world are you talking about? It appears that you are using code language; Who are the Rest? Please be more specific.
There’s no need for this navin johnson to be more specific there’s nothing between expats & Bermudians except Bermudian spouses which I’m sure navin is not referring to. Navin johnson is a perfect post name for this poster since they probably naturally play the character better than Steve Martin. Though unlike the character this navin johnson’s “special purpose” is probably inadequate compared to other Bermudian’s so resentfulness has been spawned.
It’s Okay navin no reason to hate maybe one day a scientist will find a way to make all “special purposes” equal & you can stop hating. LOL
Thank you Tommy although I would wager that my special purpose is more special than yours man…….and to George I am not using any code at all and could not be more specific….its not racial if that is what you are trying to determine….
Cheech
LMAO!!! So now we’re into a “special purpose” competition? Well it probably would depend on who the judges are to the outcome. Though I’m sure if my version of Shelby Chong was the judge she’d say my “special purpose” is a Led Zeppelin that gives her Nice Dreams. Poor Cheech on the other hand is probably still pulling toothpicks out of his pockets.
Mr fellow Astro Traveler mines is a Bazooka….you feel me?
LMAO!!! That was a good one. So you think your Bazooka can shoot my Led Zeppelin down? Now! Now! I don’t think bernews can or wants to put up shots of our cannons to compare. Besides someone would have to stand back quite a distance to get mine in the picture. LMAO!!!
It must take fellow Astro Travelers to have a debate with a sense of humor. I guess one must take a trip across the milky way to have a conversation that’s not truly condescending. I thank you comrade for going back & forth with the witty insults. Many feel they can’t be degrading “enough” when it comes to putting forth their points. I realizes you’re not one of those & even if we may disagree we will not become patronizing about it.
Till next time may the father of the four winds fill your sails across the sea of years my friend.
I do hope all goes well. Sad times we live in
When people focus on misspelled words instead of the rights of others then that tells me that we are not our brother’s keeper but instead a bunch of “HATERS”
Come on people,FOCUS on what is important, this is not an english class, but is perhaps a violation of this employee’s rights. Maybe all of you haters have to find yourselves in this postion before you really understand what it’s like to be treated unfairly in the work place, and remember all of you haters this lady more than likely has a family to support,
It is sad that so many fools make comments that do not pertain to the article. It is really sad to know that we have so many silly trifling people on this island who have no real aims or goals, other than to try and make fun of people. Judging from the amount of idiots that make trivial comments and jokes about serious issues that affect Bermuda, I would say that Bernews (if it isn’t already) wil soon be a tabloid website, like the Enquirer.
I know that many fools and idiots will attack my view, but I could care less what they say.
I agree!
I don’t think that any one of the posters here are candidates for the Nobel prize for literature.
Privatise everything and disband the unions. What a waste of time they are.
It amazes me how people want to chop the head off of the GM without even knowing the details. “Speaking on behalf of the staff, a BIU representative said that the treatment of the general manager to all the employees as a whole is an issue, saying this did “not come about yesterday or last week, it has been ongoing for the last 3.5 years since he has been here.” 3.5 years? Really? And you lot are just saying something now? PATHETIC BUNCH OF LOSERS! Here we go again with that “sense of entitlement” CRAP!
I don’t think they are just saying something now. They have going through a lot of negoiations and the dragging of feet before they got to this point. This was the last straw so to speak.
How is standing up for yourself and your rights being a pathetic bunch of losers? The guy has been going against the collective bargaining agreement. He has been putting people back on probation as a scare tactic to keep them inline. He has not paid them properly for the public holidays and he has cut hours but then hired other people within the same department. Who is really the pathetic loser here????
Coming from somone who knows how the BIU operates. They always strike, or bring up an issue that is not related to the initial issue. I aint buying that 3.5 yrs nonsense. You guys know full well that if you were to states the wrongs of you “sister” the public wold not support you. So what do you do? You paint a picture in the publics head to deviate the attention off of the main problem and get the public on board by leading them to think it is an local/Bermuda issue with management. STOP CONDONING NONSENSE. You say managment has the right to manage but as soon as somebody comes with a sob story you strike and MANAGEMENT IS ALWAYS WRONG because BIU memebers can do no wrong (crash ferry, crash bus, fight on jobs,) You guys should take up being defense lawyers because all you are worried about is the money the members pay you…….one less head means less money for you, nevermind the performance of an establishment. Back when I was young my granny use to rally for “real” issues but now days if a manager so much as looks at somone wrong…they are getting a call from somebody around there. As a manager I know you guys tricks. Public is going to get tired of all this crying wolf mess mark my words…..and heres the thing…….YOU HAVE NO MONEY FOR STRIKES…..your financials revealed that…so keep telling people strike, you wont pay them for the missed days…i know that….we dont need expats, you sink us enough as it is.
This isn’t the first time DP has done this. It’s time he goes!!! Managers have been let go by this guy.
When is the board going to see what type of person he is.Let him go. He started the CRAP. It’s time the
staff and BIU stand together. DP check you watch. Time’s UP.
Seems to me that the Union has forgotten what they are supposed to stand for, which should be to protect the rights of employees that have truly been mistreated. All of you need to first ask yourselves why this woman was on probation to begin with? Surely it is not because she is a model employee. How sad that one can use something that is meant to protect employees for such a ridiculous ploy for attention. In any other country you would be lucky to collect unemployment benefits if you had been terminated after being on probation, and you would never be placed on probation for a minor incident. To stand behind someone and support a cause that is based on such misguided principals is nothing that you should be proud of for you are supporting an individual that is truly abusing a system that was put in place to protect your rights. I recommend that Riddell’s go out and hire contractors or college students – certainly the Island has plenty of people that want and need to work and would be more than willing. All of the people in the picture holding the signs make a good wage, I am positive that others on the Island would love the opportunity to do the same.
She was on probation because it was her first three months I think many jobs have a probation period
Meanwhile people wonder why no-one wants to invest in a new hotel in Bermuda???
The sooner some of you realize that this Bernews site is the perfect place for many Hidden Bigots in Bermuda to voice what they know full well they won’t utter in public, the faster you will be able to ignore them. You have a bunch of bitter Whites Bermudians (mostly paper Bermudians) and Expats who are here to tell you how they really feel about a certain segment of our society. They don’t support the harmonizing of this society, never did and never will, so let’s not get bent out of shape with these Virtual Bigots, they know not what they do.
and a comment like that “mixiup” clearly indicates your willingness to harmonize the divisions in our society…right
Thank you for your post!!!
Don’t you mean, “vas te faire encule?”
The dispute for now is over at Riddell’s Bay it is going to arbitration.
Bernews can you find out what the cause for ATM’S not working at the Heron Bay and Whites ,is this a problem all over bda ?
Bermuda is such a devided Island.. if it is not about black /white it is about Bermudians versus our guest workers , when the hell are Bermudians going to grow up?
No, it’s really not about that either… it’s about Educated thinking people trying to convince gullible uneducated people of the truth.
BINGO!
Unions everywhere only protect the weak and the lazy.
If you are a good worker with a strong work ethic, show up every day ready to work, don’t talk on the phone on company time, don’t always say ‘that’s not my job’, etc etc…..then you don’t need a union to protect you from evil management.
And that’s a fact, jack.
That is not a fact at all. – you have no idea gow many workers/ex workers suffer at the hands of management in ununionised companies. Firing good employess f@cking with their livelihood just so that they can hire freinds. or because they dont like your personlity, or simply because they think it is fun…
and to heck with spelling errors…..
Lissa, these workers you speak of are in the minority. The much larger majority are the workers who don’t understand the responsibility of having (and keeping) a job.