Fairmont Hamilton Princess Union Staff Walk Out
[Updated] BIU President Chris Furbert is holding an impromptu press conference this afternoon [Feb 4], where he is addressing the dispute with the Hamilton Princess following their recent layoffs, which has resulted in workers protesting the decision.
A few days ago ten people were made redundant at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess, with General Manager Len Czarnecki saying: “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.”
Speaking after the layoffs, BIU President Chris Furbert said five of the workers who were laid off were BIU members, and four are Bermudians. Three worked as bar porters, and two in the in-room dining area.
Mr. Furbert also expressed concern about the collective bargaining agreement not being correctly followed, calling their actions “inexcusable.”
Speaking yesterday, Len Czarnecki said: “It is unfortunate that we are at an impasse with the BIU but look forward to talking with the BIU to resolve the matter at hand.”
18-minute video of the BIU press conference after the layoffs on January 28th:
We will update with additional details as able.
Update 1.55pm: PLP leader Marc Bean attended the BIU headquarters and gave these comments on the negotiations.
Update 2.07pm: At 9am this morning, staff from both the Hamilton and Southampton Fairmont Hotels held meetings regarding the recent redundancies. After their meeting, staff from the Hamilton Fairmont made their way to the Bermuda Industrial Union where they met with president Chris Furbert and other union officials.
Speaking after the meeting Mr Furbert said that unionised staff from the Hamilton Fairmont were off the job and will remain off the job until a resolution can be found. Fairmont Southampton staff have given management 24 hours to come to a resolution with the union.
Update 3.27pm: The Minister of Home Affairs, Sen. Michael Fahy has advised that he continues to monitor the current impasse between the BIU and the Fairmont Hamilton Princess.
As such the Minister advised that under Section 5 of the Labour Relations Act 1975, and in the interest of seeking a resolution, he referred the dispute to a dispute panel on Saturday 1st February 2014, with each party being invited to appoint their assessors by 3rd February 2014 at 11:00am.
It is expected that since the matter has been referred, both parties should withdraw any action until the arbitration process has concluded.
Minister Fahy said, “These are very unfortunate circumstances. However I am renewing my call to both groups and asking them to ensure that business operates as normal as possible until this matter has been satisfactorily resolved. It remains my sincere hope that the parties can rectify this matter for the benefit of all involved.”
Update 6.23pm: As a result of the ongoing industrial dispute at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess Hotel, BIU President, Chris Furbert has called a Special General Council meeting to be held tomorrow, Wednesday, February 5, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. at BIU Headquarters.
very sad that the hotel didn’t follow protocol. interesting how Chris is behaving, not ranting, not threatening. Funny how Fahy agrees that things were not handled properly. Outrageous that the Hotels response to Fahys position was ‘disappointing’ ….. Tread lightly fellas
Management has broken the “Collective Bargaining Agreement”. This action of the management of hotel is a clear violation of the collective agreement between the worker’s organization; the Bermuda Industrial Union and the hotel. Workers are only seeking that Management abide by the “Collective Bargaining Agreement.” Workers are only seeking Equal Rights and Justice.
Labour can not afford to allow Management to override this agreement, as it will take us back in terms of Labour progress by some 50 years, that many struggled to achieved. This will result in doing away with workers rights in this country if Management is allowed to continue to break the CB. Workers can not go back to been treated like second class citizens in their own country. What is the purpose of Labour Laws and CB if either party does not abide by them.
Workers in this country must come together as today it looks like NO ones JOB is safe. Stay strong workers, and stand firmly together is the only way forward.
Which CBA clauses weren’t followed Betty? Please be specific.
Whether or not the hotel followed the rules is irrelevant. If they did not they should be punished, if they did then no problem. What IS a problem is that the Union feels that the first step to solving the problem is walking off the job. Whilst it might seem to them that this is a way of getting back at the man, it shows very little concern for the paying guests. If our tourists are not in the forefront of our thinking, it does not matter whether management or the unions “win” in regards to this matter as both will end up losing. Without tourists, there are no jobs for management or labour. Get it together guys. We all need to think about Bermuda first.
If the hotel has not followed the CBA then surely the dispute panel (as per Fahy’s update) would have to rule in favour of the union so why go off the job? This could easily result in more job losses if the panel sides with Fairmont.
Also, I doubt that Fairmont will be paying the no-show workers as both OBA and PLP governments have done during recent transport disputes.
Maybe now I can get a job as a NON union prick. I will do more than one job. I am pretty sure I can cut a lemon, get a case of beer put it on ice and get my ice to mix drinks for my customers, and work as a TEAM member.
What. An a** !!!!
Your selection of name says it all. Thats what is kill the world. The ME ME ME metality. Union is about US not Me.
Everyone needs to recognize that times have changed, unions have no power. If an employer needs to let people go that is their prerogative, and employers rarely let great workers go. And if you don’t like it, walk out and don’t come back, there are literally hundreds who would take your place.
Here we go,more unemployment!
No worries, OBA is going to create 2000 jobs
And the BIU will destroy 3,000 but let’s not let facts get in the way
so what new hotel development team wants to hire local if this is what they have to look forward to. Yes HP is wrong wrong wrong….but to withdraw labor before exhausting negotiations is jus plain ole stupid…what have you learned from 1981? NOTHING. and some call-in fool on 102 is linking it to disrespect of the worker by the government
HP is really wrong, by why worry with biased arbitrators appointed by Fahy. Ain’t nothing but Union Busters on that panel!
would love to see the union BUSTED
Yup just like Ragan and Thatcher, typical Euro-Colonist behavior.
If I still had a job at the Princess, I would be trying to fly below the radar myself. Just saying.
yea, any employee there with a brain in their head and the desire to be promoted would stay on the clock today and help management out. those are the employees that i would be promoting and giving bonuses to…not here in Bermuda though! #idiots/fire/them/all.
Im unionized.
Im at the southampton p.
If we strike. I will go in to work. I have a life to sustain. And to be honest i will not stand up for these people. Layoffs happen. It is life. And life goes on, i see no reason at all to strike.
Union members pay $12 a week. How many union members are there… I know from fairmont shp alone the union makes $3,500 a week. Im kind of upset im paying chris furberts rent.
It’s people like you that are an embarrassment to our for fathers who sacrificed their mortgages, family and social status so you can be Unionized and have better benefits than non-union members so I suggest you denounce your Union membership and give your $12 to your favorite charity and when you are treated unjust let them represent you and give up all benefits that you enjoy.
And to make you feel a bit better your for fathers before you also had a life to sustain but they endured so you can benefit now, so every generation had a few Uncle Tom’s that think like you so I’m not surprised.
Charities need money….not a bad idea Mazumbo…All union members ensure that their union dues get paid to charity. Good thinking. Help Bermuda.
Calling someone names, when they want to exercise (as you put it in previous topic) their “God given right to work” seems like you talk out of both sides of your mouth.
Sure, but when you are fired unjustly do not go looking for labor rep to represent you, you won’t have any.
My father wouldnt agree with such selfish bulls***, my friend.
These people want off from work. They dont care about these laid off workers.
I picked the union because i figured they would be more beneficial for myself (a bit selfish yes) because the spca isnt gonna come to my rescue when im called ‘white boy’ on the jobsite.
The only thing mrs furbert (yes, mrs furbert, because……..) is concerned about is that $12 a week that pays his bills.
The BIU is a disgrace. And its kind of sad that… I have a choice of ONLY giving $12 to a charity or the BIU. Why cant i start a savings fund with my $12 a week instead of supporting animals, agape house or the stupid bull***** of the BIU.
I need that $12 more than christina or those sad cats at the spca. I have bills and a life to sustain.
Please tell me otherwise..
Like I said denounce your membership and disregard your benefits and save your $12.
Just think of it if you wasn’t a Union member you would making less money and no benefits , like the Indians, and being you admitted that you are selfish and don’t give a sh1t about the Union you should be lucky that all your getting is name calling because you deserve worst.
@unionzied Worker…..What makes you think your job is safe. Safe today, maybe gone tomorrow…you will be the very one seeking wanting everyone to rally around you. You will be the very one asking the Union to defend you. Now that you think your grass is green, your forgetting it can turn brown, at the drop of a hat. Everyone has a family to support. This is not an easy decision for folks to make or steps to take. But action is required to ensure honest and equal working conditions for all. Why does some have to suffice, at the benefit of folks like you?
By the way I do not think your really a Unionzied worker by a hooties UBPoba supporter….hiding under the hoodies.
Yeah Betty , you don’t think he’s a unionized worker just like all of us don’t think you’re a white ex OBA voter ..
I support no government party. I support myself.
My job is needed so i have no worries. But in the case that my job is 1960s esc then maybe id have to worry.
are you clairvoyant?? or just dopey.
You can go to HR and have your $12 a week donated to a charity of your choice. I send mine to the Salvation Army.
Yeah man i know, but… Its my $12. Why should i have to support other people?
Why are my only options BIU and charities?
Did you give up your benefits too or are you a LEECH like weasel.
whomever has brains unlike you
kick his dumb a@@ out
You are a whimpering coward, please send you $12 to charity, we brothers and. sister who have fought hard, and continue to do so do not need people like you in our ranks!
What you’re “fighting for” now will lose Bermudians their jobs, and cost Bermudians opportunities.
No what we’re fighting for now is better benefits for our children and their children just like our for fathers fought for us, that’s why we can enjoy the benefits we have today.
This is happening to people all over the world. I feel sorry for the 10 people this happened to but it is life! Life is not fair!
And to those bartenders that say “sorry we’re not doing the bar porters work”…. POOR YOU!!!! You should be glad you did not get the boot like them. Sound so ungrateful! And shame on Mr. Furbert for thinking their attitude is ok. And Bermudians wonder why places prefer to hire people from overseas… They don’t complain about things like that! I have had the privilege to work in hotels and restaurants on my university breaks with people from India, etc. They don’t complain about any extra work and come to work whenever they are needed, but yet my fellow Bermudians (not all) are always throwing a fit when asked to do a bit extra or come in on a holiday.
I say fire those bartenders that don’t want to do the bar porters job… I graduate this summer, I would gladly take one of their positions!
I thought you had not graduate, or experience such as the workers today are experiencing. Also you seem to lack a historical perspective on Labour Relations in Bermuda. Maybe even lack knowledge on the Labour Relations Act and Employment Act.
Once you do enter the workforce, and begin to experience injustice you too would seek the help of the union or someone to support you. Never believe it can not happen to you, as many did and are now faced with this same attitude today.
This is serious matter. Workers are treated unfairly, and they are seeking justice. The workers are only asking that Management follow the “Collective Bargaining Agreement.” The CB is an agreement between the workers and management. If one side fails to follow it, the other side does have a right to fight for it. Workers only seeking fair working conditions and equal rights and justice.
Treated Unfairly?
Its called getting fired.
Jesus Christ. As a Bermudian I am disgusted. These positions are no longer needed. Why pay a bar porter $400 a week to put glasses in a dishwasher then wipe the bar down at the end of the night…
Lazy lazy lazy lazy f****** people. And the bartenders dont want to do it? JESUS CHRIST YOURE A BARTENDER, NOT A SURGEON DOING A NURSES WORK.
Get back to work you stupid people.
Cant wait til the laundry dept gets replaced by machines. Then we will hear all hell breaking loose as all the bermudians throwing towels in a machine for $15 an hour complain they are treated unfairly.
That job in india would probably go for $15 a year.
Lets get real, Bermuda. God damn.
And then you want to blame the government.
NEWS FLASH Ron weasel, this is not India and you cant pay Bermudians Indian wages to pay Bermuda rent, mortgages, etc ,etc don’t be so stupid.
Also, you cant pay bermudians $15 an hour to throw white towels and bleach into a machine and wait 30 minutes then throw it into another machine to dry it for another 30 minutes.
Excellent way to spend money, right?
And from what ive noticed, its not like that money gets pumped back into the system. …
Tell me otherwise.
thats US Bermudians are so stupid, the most lazy useless workers in the world that think their s**t don’t stink and are better than everyone else. NOT PA
Why you hating on Indians?
I’m not picking on Indians I’m using them as an example of how employers want to exploit workers.
Your comment is racist. Admit it.
You should use your real name Ronald weasly !!! Or are you satisfied finding behind the walls of your wizarding world ?!!!!
So should you!
@ Smh,
You know nothing about these people, so save your cheap comments for someone you know.
These men are not lazy, they are following their job description, and you seem to think otherwise.
I work in the industry, and have been for the last 16 years of my life. This industry does not pay the greatest, nor are you treated the greatest.
I have worked along Indians, as well as many other nationalities, and the reason they are seen in good light is becuase they will do anything they are told, and not ask many questions.
From your statement, it would seem people are just to do as they are told, without question, even if the hotel is in the wrong?
To people like you, I say slaves days are over, and I applaud these people for doing what they deem is right.
People like you are funny, talk about people, and don’t have a clue, but you would take the hotels word because they are a great establishment and can’t do any wrong. Dumba**
“These men are not lazy, they are following their job description” – And therein lies your problem. In these times they should be putting in every effort, that means going above and beyond what you are told/hired to do. Doing this would benefit themselves, their employers and Bermuda.
“take the hotels word because they are a great establishment and can’t do any wrong” – The same could be asked of the Union. You have no more idea that the union is doing everything right here than you do the hotel. It seems to me like many of these workers care less about the loss of their fellow workers jobs but are just more than willing to follow their union bosses’ orders like sheep. Not to mention I’m sure several of them just see it as time off work (see my first point).
The Minister has referred this to arbitration, the proper process. Both sides should be following this and continuing as normal in the meantime.
If you had listened to everything that was said he said that the hotel is refusing to put everything back to normal and that is why they are refusing arbitration.
Okay, forgive me if I ramble, just thinking out loud here.
There’s going above and beyond and there is being taken advantage of. Hopefully the two terms are not mutually inclusive in our mindset.
In other words… while the bar porter may take pride in his work that doesn’t mean he is automatically expected to then do the work of 3 people all with the same enthusiam and exactness and with exactly the same pay. At the very least it should make the employee uneasy, especially if the business is seen to profit while fleecing the employee out of fair pay.
Garbage.
So a Bermudian family invests in the property, puts a ton of money into renovations, and this is how the union returns the favor, by going on strike? With persnickety workers like these, why would someone invest in Bermuda rather than another island where there either aren’t unions or they are more reasonable when management needs to make a change? One of the reasons hotel service is terrible in Bermuda hotels is because they can’t get rid of the lousy workers and are afraid to hire new workers for fear they will be impossible to fire. I admire the Greens but sometimes I think they made a foolish investment – and the union is trying to convince them I’m right.
” ….One of the reasons hotel service is terrible in Bermuda hotels is because they can’t get rid of the lousy workers …:
NOT 100% TRUE… please try again…
Ever tried to organize a major conference, convention, big party like a wedding? The professionalism of the event staff, in my experience, is much better in other jurisdictions than in Bermuda. (HP actually have a decent event staff, but those at certain other properties here are miserable.)
Big events can be held in many different places. I’m not going to organize a major event in a jurisdiction where the staff feel it’s OK simply to walk out with no notice. Hotel unions in places like NYC are very strong, but they rarely if ever hurt the customers by walking out. The BIU seem to take a perverse pride in causing problems for tourists and the general public because of perceived slights, which often are petty and have nothing to with “justice”.
Not 100% true…?
Look at todays events… All the lousy workers are on strike sticking up for 4 bermudians and 6 guest workers.
Any other time im at work all the bermudians pick on and make fun of the guest workers.
I was at work one day and a Bermudian said to an egypt worker speaking to an indian worker… “Ching chang chong ching”
First of all, youre making fun of the wrong country.
Second of all they were speaking english, with accents.
Goes to show you how much bermudians care about guest workers…. Or do they just want a few days off?
Only 99 …
@ IB,
Are you stupid of something? The green invested in themselves. They stand to gain if the hotel does well, so what the hell are you talking about? If it was a bad investment in their eyes, they wouldn’t have taken it, so please stopping acting like they came to help all the poor people in Bermuda. Tired of hearing that s***. They here because they got the hotel on the cheap, and GOV gave them concessions, so with all due respect, F off!
Can you make any reference to “they came to help all the poor people in Bermuda” that you keep hearing? They invested in a hotel which needs to turn a profit for then to be successful. I don’t agree with them breaking the CBA if they did but you are completely off base. Do you have any idea why they were able to get the hotel on the cheap? Supply and demand buddy, simple economics.
@ Come Correct,
I have heard it enough, and don’t need your word to sure up my statement.
So no?
..and you bought what in Bermuda to stimulate the economy?
You don’t seem to understand that you can’t legislate ‘confidence’
in our economy or country’s future, but the Greens have injected confidence. Now you and others who think (or don’t think) like you are undermining that confidence massively.
After witnessing this OVER reaction to the natural loss of jobs in a desperate economy, nobody is going to invest in us.
The Greens didnt ignore the CBA, that daily running is done by managers. It was easily recinded and could be rehandled as CBA requires.
Not now that you pull out workers, inconvenience the three tourists we have left and effectively warn all businesspersons their investment in anything here is virtually worthless.
Bermuda workers and especially union members need to look at this carefully and extrapolate the possible ramifications.Not looking good fellow Bermudians, storm clouds on the horizon.Time for you all to decide if you want to work for a living and put aside all this petty trifling or continue work stoppages and walk outs and finish what the last government started…our collapse.
So now noth sides have now broken the CBA.
The hotel broke the CBA by not notifying the Union of their proposed decisions.
And the Union has now broken the CBA via their wildcat strike with no notice given.
No winners here and just another knock to our so called tourism industry (5% of GDP is just pathetic).
Good luck BTA you will need all the luck you can get in this island.
So how does this work….Union pays these folks wages instead ?
Please can someone let us know if the union paid their money for today?
Hotel surely does not pay for today. Workers or Not working workers have walked off job, no notice.
Great, so all those investors looking at Bermuda and thinking, erm maybe I’ll go to the Caymans instead.
Sure protocol was not followed, but where is the commonsense in this? What are the tourists at the hotels going to say, what are the businesspeople at the Hamilton Princess going to say…
And Bob Richards wants to go further than the SAGE commission recommended. Good luck Bob
@ Jeremy Deacon,
You sir, are an A**.
You ask where is the commonsense after protocal was not followed.
I ask where was the commonsense before they decided to not follow protocol.
but why walk of the job? why not get a court ordered injunction against the Hotel to re-instate the porters and engage in arbitration. Then to add insult to injury, the court will order costs to be paid by the hotel…walking of the job when you know you need the money….just plain irrational.
Walking of the job got their attention and they’re talking.
They are further damaging the industry they want to work in. Killing their own futures. Madness.
No they are protecting what their for fathers fought for, for the future of their children.
@ Swing Voter,
I am not an HP employee, I do not know why they walked out. Maybe they felt the light that will be shinning on the hotel puts them in a better position, as Bermuda’s eyes are on them.
One thing I can say is that change, or standing up to the powers that be has always been frowned upon, and still is.
Take a look at the story we are commenting on.
The Hamilton Princess does not follow protocol, and create’s a situation where staff are forced to carry out duties that do not fall under their job criteria. They go to the union, obviously things are not settled, so they decide to strike.
People are on here belittling people, questioning their integrity, calling them stupid and lazy because the Hamilton Princess decided to not to follow protocol.
Did any of you people stop to think that if they did follow protocol, we would not be having this conversation?
Do you even know what a bar porter does?
When you find out, let me know if they deserve the money they get.
Why wouldn’t a bar porter deserve their pay BF
rules are to be followed…no argument there. but when everyone breaks the rules then anarchy follows…remember 1981? the hotel is wrong…that’s not the issue as the CBA is in the workers favor and could have been used to expose unfair labor practices which has already embarrassed the hotel…the problem for me (as a trade unionist) is that the workers chose to also behave badly, which is what they wanted in the first place….think people, knee jerk reactions are our downfall.
unfortunately in Bermuda arbitration panels are always made up of pro business people so labor rarely gets a fair shot …..thats why they never want to go to the arbitration process.
In many cases (probably the majority…please can someone post stats) they rule in favour of the employee.
Arbitration is an independent process.
Why do you have to call everyone an a** on here that yuo don’t agree with?
I agree that the Hotel didn’t follow protocol.
But neither has the Union with this wildcat strike.
Both are now wrong in this situation.
But then again I am probably just dumba** that knows nothing.
@ No Winners Here,
I call people a**’s when they make a stupid comment.
Mr. Deacon ask’s for common sense after the Hotel Management decided to not follow protocol, and you are wondering why I called him an a**? lol
Was common sense used when they decided not to follow protocol?
But yet you called him an ass*, another a poster a dumba$$ and told one more to f-off. Why is there such need for this type of language against others that you don’t agree with? Just because you hold one point of view doesn’t make others who another asse$.
What about the Union not abiding by the CBA and instigating a wildcat strike that will do more harm than good?
Both parties are now wrong and no one is to benefit either way.
@ No Winners Here,
Listen, if you aren’t going to address my point, then it doesn’t make sense talking to you.
Yes, the union did call a strike, but you consistantly choose to skirt across the reason why a strike was called in the first place. If protocol was followed, then we would not be having this conversation. If it was the union who broke the rules in the first place, I would rip into Chris Furbert for standing for something that is wrong. But in this instance, I cannot fault him for what he is standing for. And further to the fact, Mr. Furbert ( And I don’t care for this man much) only can act on behalf of his members, not his opinion.
“Listen, if you aren’t going to address my point, then it doesn’t make sense talking to you.”
That you Chris?
I agree with JD.
We’re watching the chance of any new hotel investment disappear before our eyes. The BIU should use common sense.
So Union claims break of collective agreement by hotel….
The Union breaks collective agreement with an illegal strike action…..
seems to me neither side values or follows the collective agreement and thus the document is null and void, therefore Princess should start interviewing replacements imo. plenty of folks with fantastic bermuda charm and expertise looking for work.
Were they not made redundant?
BILL MARRIOTT:
“If I had to live my life over I would everything the same except own a hotel in Bermuda”
Since 1981: over 100 hotels, cottage colonies & guest houses have closed.
Insane wage demands in the early 80′s couple with mandatory gratuities for crap service in many places have killed tourism and made the cost of doing business outrageous. 50% of hotel costs are on local wages….
That is insane….
HUMANS: Always Blame the little guy
Bermuda Tourism as a product: 15 years and still declining (UBP& PLP Gov)
NOW…. Now the blame game starts… and little guy get blamed
HUMANS!!!
Well said, Tony! I feel sorry for the Greens. I bet they now wish they had invested their money in Apple shares instead.
You feel ‘sorry’ for the Greens?? What about the sacked worker making 15 dollars an hour? You people cease to amaze me…
*never cease
With all due respect, your opinion is valuable but biased. For all your rhetoric about your “love for Bermuda and Tourism”, you are very focused on your own agenda. I don’t know how to take you, Mr. Brannon.
Your comments on the OBA Facebook page last year spoke volumes to me about your position – - this post just reinforces that rhetoric.
Sad.
Q
Can I ask why you never lambast anyone on here that shows a biased opinion against the OBA and for the PLP?
Why is one considered to be nobel and the other blasphemous?
So what’s the excuse of wages staying the same or dropping and prices sky high and rising??????????????????
Why in the F*** in the world does a Union have 2 back up a bar porter! I just cant wrap my head around this! Can someone plz answer this question for me? Its a complete disrespect to the people in this country that do NOT have a job when u see people walking off a job! Dont u know how much people in this country that have been giving a “pink slip” without no notice and give it to them at knock off time (5pm)!? It just goes to show us Bermudians once again why our tourism product is the way it is today.
Read Betty Trump comments
Management has broken the “Collective Bargaining Agreement”. This action of the management of hotel is a clear violation of the collective agreement between the worker’s organization; the Bermuda Industrial Union and the hotel. Workers are only seeking that Management abide by the “Collective Bargaining Agreement.” Workers are only seeking Equal Rights and Justice.
Labour can not afford to allow Management to override this agreement, as it will take us back in terms of Labour progress by some 50 years, that many struggled to achieved. This will result in doing away with workers rights in this country if Management is allowed to continue to break the CB. Workers can not go back to been treated like second class citizens in their own country. What is the purpose of Labour Laws and CB if either party does not abide by them.
Workers in this country must come together as today it looks like NO ones JOB is safe. Stay strong workers, and stand firmly together is the only way forward”
Take it Easy, it’s about PRICIPLE, even though it’s just a BAR PORTER he’s a human being who has a right that has been in effect probably before you where born when people where being fired for no reason and didn’t have no rights, so don’t blame the Union blame employers over the years who didn’t treat workers with respect, that’s why we have Unions today Dreamer !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Any one who protested this should be fired! This is a disgrace! You have a Bermudian family piling money into this hotel and this is the thanks they get! There are plenty of Bermudians who are presently unemployed who would happily take your places!!! Deal with it people!
That’s the beauty of Democracy you just cant fire people who have an agreement without consultation that’s a pre-1960′s tactic, also Hotels got concessions in millions of $$$$$$$$$$ to keep workers employed, so do we take the concessions back ?
BUT still, GM leaves on Feb 7th,makes 10 people redundant 1 week before???
hmmmmmmmmmmmmm!
To the CEO of the Tourism Authority:
Bill:
Welcome to cloud cuckoo land. 1981 started the erosion and demise of Bermuda Tourism. The BIU kept quiet for the past 14 years whilst their pals were in office. Stay tuned for another round of nonsense.
Enough is enough.
The erosion and demise of Bermuda Tourism started when you started to penalize the collage kid’s hefty for damaging hotel property and fining them $1000 for a joint and hotel prices went sky high that’s why they go south to free up for a cheaper price.
I think most in Bermuda would say that the general strike caused the most damage.
Oh that’s right! THAT was the cause of tourism collapse!
Not the time we saw tourists walking the causeway to catch flights, being spat at by picketers,dying in fires at Southampton Princess by arsonists? The walk outs and wildcat strikes that ruined many a holiday? The rudeness inflicted on so many by the locals,purse snatching, raping and generally cementing our reputation as poor value, low service and dangerous.
Jamaica has one of the highest murder rates in the Western region and tourist flock there and the excuse is?
THE ISSUE IS THAT MANAGEMENT DID NOT FOLLOW PROPER PROTOCOL AND PROCEDURES WHEN ISSUING THESE REDUNDANCIES!!!! PEOPLE GET MADE REDUNDANT ALL THE TIME BUT YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW THE PROCESS AND NOT MAKE IT UP ALONG AS YOU GO!!!
THE ISSUE IS NOT WITH THE GREEN FAMILY AND I’M SURE THEY LEAVE MANAGEMENT TO MAKE THE DECISIONS FOR STAFFING!!!
THESE ARE NOT LAZY WORKERS, I FREQUENT OFTEN AND I ENJOY THE SERVICE FROM THIS BAR PERSONNEL!!
TREAT PEOPLE RIGHT!!! STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS!! THIS IS 2014 NOT 1914!!! NEVER NEGOTIATE ON YOUR KNEES!!!
The point isnt that bermudians were made redundant…the point is the due process wasn’t followed. Just because they are Bermudian owned and that a lot of money is being poured into the hotel, doesnt give the owners or managers the right to contravene the collective bargaining agreement. These agreements are in place to protect workers from management running roughshod over their rights. I think the entire Bermuda appreciates development at HP but in the same breath these guys are not immune from having to follow due process.
The union didn’t give notice, so they have not followed due process either.
the union is acting in response to bad behavior from management.
So two wrongs make a right then?
Not at all, but the management acted first and therefore should retract their action and abide by the collective bargaining agreement. Had they done this from the start there would have been no need for the union to act.
The management didnt act first… They laid off workers like any other corporation would do. Its called business for a reason. You cant pay $400 a week for 5 people to put dirty glasses through a washing machine……..
If anything the BIU acted first.
They drew First Blood weasel.
I am wondering………………….Labour Relations in Bermuda goes like this:
Labour Dispute
Press Conference
Rant Rave (March when necessary)
Withdraw Labour
Get your way
Back to work…….
Would I want to invest in that?
We have never been a people together for the greater good….and the Big Bad World in this case owns the greater good.
Watch Out Bermuda
Watch Out.
Part OF Bermuda’s History, as a matter of fact every country goes through it, it’s just more hated in Bermuda because one segment of Bermuda is Unionized and the other segment is anti-Union(I wonder why) whereas in other countries all segments of society(black and white) fight together.
Bermuda is another world. SMFH
There are white people in the union , and there are black people not in the union. Stop spreading divisive hate propaganda.
STOP WITH YOUR LIES Mazumbo.
Ok my bad,99.9% are Unionized
You make intelligent black people cringe , trust me , and if you are just a troll , well done lady.
Reminds me of how a child would act…
well,well ,well this is just the start.
I love it
good always prevails
Protocol my butt….these are hard and desperate times for Bermuda and if a business must carry excess staff to appease a union just get ready to turn out the lights…..bar porters are not needed ……who would want to invest in Bermuda knowing what they had to deal with? Fortunately a drop in the bucket for the Green’s.
rules are rules Johnson…you can’t conveniently break the rules when it suits you….the CBA was agreed to a long time ago.
The only winners are the union leaders who get paid regardless. Everyone else loses screw the CBA
and thats why you will never be part of the solution Johnson, you are wallowing in the mud with the grubs….on both sides of the spectrum
Yup and the Union leaders get ridiculed(name calling, having your portrait posted on a bucket of chicken at the non-mariners (Tea Party) race, negotiating for workers so we can have good benefits and a sustainable wage in an expensive country instead of having embarrassing wages and no benefits like our Indian and Philippine workers.
What were the Greens thinking? Investing all that money into the hotels, assuming it would be a VIABLE business venture. The Union sure proved them wrong.
I find it very interesting that you have representatives from the same union acting on the same issue differently (1) HP staff deciding NOT to return to work and (2) SP staff giving 24 hours notice.
I bet you that CF is discussted with the SP members who decided to wait 24 hrs before going on strike.
South P is just following protocol.
Unlike the union at HP.
The biggest mistake was not brining in more Uighurs.
Where the hell is Ewart when we need him.
The Union have a case. The CBA was ignored by the Hotel. But walking off the job is just unwise. A court injunction would have been reasonable to force the Hotel to re-instate the porters while the grievance is addressed in arbitration…to walk off the job when you need that job is….beyond rational
And what the heck does a “bar porter” do? I remember the days when every restaurant has a “cashier”. She would sit on a Captain’s chair, and every waiter and waitress had to bring the bill with payment to her, and she would make change or something. That’s all she did. The Lobster Pot had one. The bar at the Hamilton Princess had one. How did we manage to do away with this critical function?
They took her stool away. When she realized she had to stand for her whole shift she quit. She’s now working as a cashier in a grocery store. But she doesn’t pack your groceries. That’s the bag boy’s job. She just slides your groceries past the scanner and tells you to swipe your card.
do you think that if it was your own livelihood on the line that you might be just a bit more sympathetic to the cause? just asking?
WTF does Marc Bean have to do with ANY of this? He should just keep his big fat mouth shut and let Fairmont and the Union sort it out.
I mentioned in an earlier blog that I have been made redundant on a few occasions where I was given a few minutes notice and a cheque. Was I happy? Heck no, but sometimes, life is just not fair. In the instances where I was given the boot, I was just one of many casualties, as an entire department was axed. We could have all kicked and screamed, but it would have been a total waste of precious time and energy.
One cannot dictate to a business that it must employ people who they either do not need, or, in some case cannot afford. (Not to mention those that don’t perform!)
Now if it transpires that in the process of redundancies, suitably qualified Bermudians are displaced by guest workers, then of course, we might have a problem.
Given the BIU’s history, one could argue that any agreement between them and an employer is made under duress from the perspective of the employer. I refer to their history of calling strikes at a moment’s notice and generally wreaking havoc with our daily lives (bus and ferry strikes a prime example).
With such a reputation, as an employer, I too might feel that ”it is better to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission”.
No one is dictating that they cannot make people redundant. The issue is that the collective bargaining agreement between the Union and the Employer was violated by the Employer not approaching the union and discussing the redundancies in advance.
I mentioned the Union’s history because THEY are the ones who have CONSISTENTLY broken the rules; year after year, decade after decade.
Remember, the Hotel was obliged to enter into the agreement, but not necessarily eager.
And while it may not better to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission, the Union’s history certainly makes it easier!
Marc Bean is involved because it has always been PLP / BIU that’s why we have the problems we have now!!!!!
Just like O.B.A/ubp ,Employers Counsel and Chamber of Commerce that the History of Bermuda Dreamer.
TCF, ain’t you got a Belco cable to install or something? You get paid a lot to sit on the computer all day and blog with all your various aliases.
chingas bie!
Just close the hotel until the renovations are completed… Send all the ‘workers’ home until then – then have a recruitment drive for staff – everyone starts with zero years on the job… new pensions et al… This means that Hotel Management Company would be happy all the money they would save on wages… and staff would be happy as the barmen wouldn’t have to fetch ice or clean down the counters…
Problem Solved.
Also the Greens may own the Hotel building – but they don’t run it – they have acompany that has tendered for and got that job from them…
Agree. Better yet shut down re hire REAL Workers ( won’t be to many LOCALS ). What did they do with the air traffic controllers.. NO union will run anything that I may have a dealing with, I will run it as I see fit.
@ Malachi believe it or not workers actually have rights. If you feel or believe you and others were unfairly let go you could have taken your issue to the unions (BPSU or BIU) or went to the Human Rights commission. Its not a matter of kicking and screaming its a matter of not allowing injustices to take place. Being a worker doesnt mean you are a slave and have to take it.
@Upsetwithverdict:
I am not saying that workers do not have rights, we do have an Employment Act which sets out the rules and regulations.
Essentially, an employer has to give a certain amount of notice OR a certain amount of pay in lieu. Now I never stated that I felt like I was unfairly dismissed and I don’t believe I was. The company ceased to do a certain function locally and a department was shed.
If, on the other hand we were replaced by guest workers of equal credentials, that is another matter and would justify “kicking and screaming”.
I should also add that my severance pay was greater that that required by the Act.
Such is business, and sometimes it’s painful.
There may have been a breach in the Collective Bargaining Agreement
rules, but the BIU’s history of ignoring the rules made the decision by the hotel a whole lot easier.
Let them all walk off and put the union in a position to show their (nonexistent) support. Let them all walk off and let’s find out where the Union’s resources are once and for all.
Who cares? Bermuda is finished anyways.
Look at the reaction over this incident. Now imagine when the need to cull excessive Govt waste is ignored because of fear of this type of response.
So we continue on with the status quo (i.e. Keep up the spending, keep piling on the debt, refuse to accept a need for change in our tourism product, and our continued political tribalism) hoping that everything will eventually work itself out for the better. But as a much smarter person than me once said, ‘the definition of insanity is attempting the same thing over and over and expecting a different result’ or something along those lines.
Continuing down the same path we are currently on will not end very well for all involved. The necessary belt tightening will more than likely be avoided in the name of politics and Bermuda will suffer greatly for such inaction in the not so distant future. What happens when the cupboards are bare, contingency funding is no longer an option and the piper comes calling? Are you guys going to scream them away and call them nasty names for lending you money to sustain the perks that a few enjoy today? It won’t work and the next step is emergency funding from the UK? They have their own financial issues so that more than likely won’t be an option. So along comes the IMF and their Structural Adjustment Loans. Know what the Adjustment part means? If you don’t than I suggest you ask one of the 3,000 public civil servants who were made recently redundant in Barbados no longer than 2 months ago.
I won’t even go into the gaming issue where some believe upping our tourism game (gambling is just one facet of that process) is not needed and that somehow all the tourists will suddenly rediscover Bermuda and be more than willing to pay top notch prices for a mediocre, at best, product currently being offered.
The sad thing is that cooler heads more than likely will not prevail in our economic crisis and I have even heard some say that our financial issues are overblown, exaggerated and just a myth conjured up by this Government so that they can ac in the big bad white way of culling workers just for the sake of it or to make the previous Government look bad. The denial is strong and that scares me as these individuals are ready to obstruct any attempts at reviving our economy and by extension Govermenment revenue.
In other words this little spat is nothing compared to the issues that are barreling our way. Good luck BDA.
Since Bermuda had the strike back in 1981 , when the island came to a stand still , and up until now, Bermuda will never get back the tourist dollars, for four reasons?1}many know Bermuda has a reputaion for strikes 2} it is just to expensive to be here for vacation 3}not worth investing here ,to see a net worth 4}cruise ships do it all for a cheaper price..While i would agree the way the hotel went about it ,with the lay off”s,why does it always come back to strikes as the first resort ,and not the last to settle disputes ..
I am a bartender for many years. Never had a porter. Worked in houses bigger and busier than Hamilton Princess or any in Bermuda. I will take the job. Walk off a job and you are finished. Bermuda, get with the program. Union can not control Bermuda!!!! Get rid of the union. All they do is make fools of this country.
The fool is you with the idea of getting rid of an organization that gave the oppressed people of this country a sense of equality and justice over the last 67 years. FOOL.
a**
To the Princess Hotels:-
FIRE everyone that has walked off the job!
There are MANY people that will gladly apply and do the jobs.
People are TIRED of all this crap in Bermuda,Learn to work like the rest of the world.
Since the BIU workers ignored the Arbitration procedure that was effective on February 1 this has to be an unauthorized stoppage. So the OBA need to call in the Berkeley Bond. The verbal assurance given by/to Dr. Brown at the time is not worth the paper it’s written on so pay it. It also appears from the out of date and in breach of the law delayed accounts the BIU doesn’t have the funds to support the workers (where did all that money go?) so they will soon be back to work.
The hotel workers will quickly find out the real world does not owe them a living. Next it will be the bloated Civil Service. The private sector has seen and felt the real world for several years, and will not and cannot continue to pay for these excess layers. Be grateful for the job you have and realize the days of 3 people for one job finished years ago.
Hey ah FURBERT I want you to run my business, i am not making money now so I am sure you can F*** it U* even more.
Can’t believe they are expecting bar tenders to scoop their own ice ??!
Seems to me that the Hotel wanted these guys off the property “posthaste”……..I wonder why!!!
Lot of people going to be out of work.Maybe Furby will give you strikers some pay.
To those “unionize hotel workers” that are bashing what the Union is doing/not doing. When the Big Bad Wolf comes knocking at your door. Who are YOU going to CALL?……. “Little Red Riding Hood”
Only in Bermuda you can walk off the job or go on strike when you don’t like when something is going right.If it’s not the garbage trucks workers it’s the bus drivers if it’s not them it’s the ferry workers , dock workers , teachers union and etc.
No go look for a new job,one door close you go and open another
@Muhumbo. take your union and stuff it
to all you biu members:-
do you really think the biu will give you Strike Pay?
take a real good look at how fbert dresses!
YOU ALL pay for that!
walking off the job collectively is sometimes the only way to grab managements attention.
they are often so involved in streamlining procedures, and the bottom line, that they forget the very important role fulfilled by the lowly workers.
this type of action requires an immediate response.
it plainly reminds the management of the workers importance.
i’m sure they don’t like it, but it’s simple. if you are in an agreement with the union and the workers collectively, stick to it!
if there were no workers, how could you manage?
Unfortunately the BIU has delusions of grander, they wrap themselves into the world union movement as if they have at any point led the charge. They are pale shadow of a union compared to organizations around the globe, especially in the US.
The BIU looks for the most money for the least work, plain and simple. They do nothing to develop the worker, train and provide tools to be competitive, if anything they dull the workers abilities through mediocrity and low standards.
Bermudians deserve a real union with competent administration that does more than huff and puff…I for one would never want to see an island with no unions, I would however be delighted to see a new Union rise up to replace the incompetence that is the legacy of the BIU.
“Perhaps my expectations were too high, but it seemed the employees felt as if they were doing you a favor by allowing you to stay in their hotel.”
Quote from Trip Advisor posted 6 days ago. Doesn’t that make you feel proud to be Bermudian?
Many posts on Trip advisor call the staff at the Hotel “Arrogant”
Gotta agree with sayitaintso…get rid of the union! What an embarrassment to us all. If you walked off…yer fired. Period. Shame on you, idiots. Union or no union.
There are a lot of ppl on here crying down the union but if any of u were ever in a position where u needed representation u would be singing a different tune. If the hotel is in the wrong then the workers have every right to walk off the job! Sometimes that’s the only way to get a response from management.
The hotel did nothing wrong.
Again the issue is not unions, it is the biu, the bpsu would have handled this far differently and would have seen the advantage of the situation. The hotel was in the wrong, if handled according to the collective agreement the union would have come out on top and in good favor with the country. In stead they come out as a petulant child.
I say this as a member of the biu, regrettably, I wish I had a choice of union. I would instantly transfer to the bpsu if I could.
people island wide should walk off their plantations and demand more and better
blacks need to wake up and relies that as long as they depend on the other side for jobs and support they will stay in the position they are in, create your own jobs and support each others businesses, stop shopping at their shops and supporting people that could care less about you, find solutions for your own problems or find yourselves back into slavery,,
I lived in Bda for a few years & the many union walk offs were a joke! As a Canadian, I think your union promotes, rewards & supports unethical workers.The union should set a “responsible work standard for all workers” & if they do not comply they can be FIRED without shutting down the whole 26 sq miles of your country & holding everyone (tourists, expats & Bermudians) hostages. The longer I stayed in Bermuda, the more the “PARADISE” faded & the childish “UNION” glowed. Sadly, I recommend visiting on a cruise ship where some stablity is assurred. So far I have not heard of cruise ship personnel walking off the job!