KFC Bermuda: ‘Reject BIU’s Recent Assertion’

KFC Bermuda said they “reject the BIU’s recent assertion” that they broke the terms of a temporary court injunction issued last year, and said the BIU is “engaging in public theatrics and making sensational and unsupported public accusations against the KFC companies.”

The dispute between the two companies began back in 2011, and yesterday [May 21] BIU President Chris Furbert accused KFC Bermuda of “bullying staff” and trying to “oust the remaining Union members from its ranks with unsavory tactics.”

Mr Furbert said, “Instead of abiding by the law and taking lawful steps to see to it that this dispute is handled correctly and within the bounds of the law, KFC has decided to do, what appears to be, the opposite.

“They are bullying staff in what the BIU believes is a direct attempt to oust the remaining Union members from its ranks with unsavory tactics.”

BIU members marching outside KFC in June of last year:

The KFC companies responded to Mr Furbert’s statement today, saying, ”Both Kentucky Fried Chicken (Bermuda) Limited [KFCB] and KFC Operations Ltd. [KFCO] reject the BIU’s recent assertion that either company has broken the terms of a temporary court injunction issued last year.

“Logic would dictate that if the BIU felt a violation of the injunction had occurred then the appropriate course of action would be first to raise the issue with KFCB and if suitable resolution could not be reached, approach the Court.

“KFCB notes that the BIU has not pursued these logical steps in this instance but instead made unsubstantiated allegations to the media without first approaching the KFC companies to express their concerns or seek clarifications.

“It seems that the BIU’s approach is ‘Why let the facts get in the way of a good story?’

“For the avoidance of doubt, KFCB and KFCO state categorically that they do not believe they have:

• 1) Violated a temporary injunction imposed by the Courts;
• 2) Treated employees unfairly, as alleged by the BIU; and
• 3) Specifically in relation to allegations regarding Mrs. June Douglas, breached any obligations under the Human Rights Act 1998.

“KFCB finds it bizarre that less than a week in advance of the scheduled start of Labour Disputes Tribunal proceedings, the BIU is engaging in public theatrics and making sensational and unsupported public accusations against the KFC companies.

“Such conduct certainly calls into question whether the BIU intends to enter into the Tribunal process in good faith seeking resolution of long outstanding matters.

The statement concluded by saying, “KFCB hopes that the BIU will refrain from further unsubstantiated public accusations pending attendance of the parties before the Labour Disputes Tribunal scheduled to convene next week.

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