06142019 BUSINESS

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business@tribunemedia.net FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2019

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Hotel union boss insists all he wants is a deal

By NATARIO MCKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

T

HE Bahamas Hotel Catering & Allied Workers Union (BHCAWU) president yesterday fired back against claims by Bahamas Hotel Employers Association (BHEA) insisting the union has always been “ready, willing and able” to negotiate a new industrial agreement. During a press conference at Workers House Darrin Woods, the BHCAWU president said the union’s primary goal is to secure a “registered” industrial agreement

for its membership. He also stated the 15 percent gratuity issue was not the basis for which the union sought a strike vote but rather due to several outstanding disputes at the various resort properties. Russell Miller, the BHEA’s president said last week the hotel union’s impatience to secure a new industrial agreement was “disproportionate” because it had taken more than six years since the previous deal’s end for it to submit a new proposal - one the employers had responded to in just four months. Mr Woods, however, offered a different take. He said the BHEA had held the position that the union

had failed to give notice of its intention to amend the terms of the agreement - 90 days prior to the agreement’s expiration - and that no changes could be made. The BHEA ultimately maintained the only matter to be settled was the duration of a new agreement - with identical terms as the previous one. Mr Woods said the union disagreed with this position and saw the move as a refusal to negotiate. “The matter went to court in 2013. A determination was subsequently made in August 2015. The BHEA had indicated that as long as their was no determination in the matter there was nothing to discuss other

than the extension of the contract,” said Mr Woods. Mr Woods noted that the courts ultimately ruled in the union’s favour, with the BHEA seeking an appeal. To date that matter has not come up. We were informed that the matter was dismissed and they have an opportunity to refile the matter if they want to, so we wait,” said Mr Woods. He added the law now prohibits the union and the BHEA from entering into any agreement to be signed on behalf of workers. “Unless and until the government makes a change to the Industrial Relations Act, we are precluded from entering into an agreement with the BHEA to sign a

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OBIE WILCHCOMBE DARREN WOODS document that can be registered. We did not submit a proposal to the BHEA. When we brought our platform to our members one of the things highlighted was securing a registered industrial agreement,” said Mr Woods, noting that the union had submitted proposals to each resort, beginning with Atlantis on December 21, 2018 and ending with the Towne Hotel on February 5 of this year. The resorts which are members of the BHEA bargaining unit are Melia, Atlantis, Ocean Club, Harbourside, the British Colonial Hilton, Lyford Cay Club and Towne Hotel.

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net ONE of two “warring factions” seeking supremacy of the Lucayan Towers South Condominium Association has been hit with a restraining order after a former board member ordered the locks to the Resident Manager’s office to be changed without the current board’s permission. The Court of Appeal said the invalidated board of Douglas Prudden, Yasmin Popescu, Linda CarrollStrachan, Debra Edwards, and Julie Glover are prohibited from meddling in the board’s affairs after Ms Glover unilaterally instructed a local security

firm to change the locks in question. Previously, an appellate judge had ordered that none of the former board, their servants or agents were at liberty to enter the Freeport property, and were to be granted “restricted access” to certain areas like electrical rooms, elevator shafts or the offices of senior managerial staff. The matter is the latest development in an ongoing legal dispute over which of two factions of unit owners is lawfully entitled to constitute the management board of the Lucayan Towers South Condominium Association in Grand Bahama. According to the ruling, the initial dispute between

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Door still open for Lewis scholarships ALL IS not lost for those 2019 graduates and young adults still in hot pursuit of financial aid and a college to call home as the Lewis Foundation, a charitable organisation promoting tertiary education, is still accepting applications. Its generous scholarships offer “a full ride” to students pursuing careers in hospitality. The award will cover the cost of tuition, room and board and textbooks for successful applicants enrolled or accepted into the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando for the spring 2020 semester. In order to apply, prospects must be able to provide proof of Bahamian citizenship, acceptance into the UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management Program and demonstrate financial need. The university’s freshman application deadline is September 1, 2019. “While the deadline is September 1, time is needed for international students to be awarded funding and acquire a US student visa. The wonderful thing about UCF is they have rolling admissions which allows prospects to receive timely admission notice,” said Andrica Smith-Munroe, spokesperson for the Lewis Foundation.

The scholarship is sponsored in part by the oceanside luxury resort community, Albany and the Tavistock Group, the Bahamas-based private investment organisation founded by British billionaire Joe Lewis. “The Bahamas is set to be transformed by proposed upgrades, expansions and new mixed-use and resort developments which will further add to our appeal as a top vacation destination. From the Port of Nassau to Paradise Island to cruise liners’ private islands and boutique Family Island projects, the hospitality industry infrastructure is experiencing a boom,” said Mrs Smith-Munroe. “The sector’s future looks bright and that is likely to fuel more jobs for those with a hospitality degree. That is something eleventh graders, high school seniors and college freshmen should think about, ‘Can I get a good job after graduation?’” Scholarships will be awarded to successful applicants who intend to pursue majors in event management, entertainment management, restaurant and food service or hospitality management. According to the University of Central Florida’s website, its well-rounded graduates are familiar with

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DUANE SANDS still on that journey.” NHI enrolment began in 2017. “I would be the first to say that UHC and NHI remains unfinished business. The core principles of UHC/NHI, affordable and accessible quality care are unwavering –– and are not being debated. We can all agree, everyone will benefit! What is debated is the formula for sustainably

Former minister states concern for Freeport’s economic ‘pace’ By NATARIO MCKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

funding UHC/NHI,” said Dr Sands. He noted the current proposal is for employers to share the cost with employees in ensuring that all beneficiaries receive standard health benefits. “All employees no matter the salary will pay a percentage of their income as a contribution to the plan and employers will pay the remainder. The focus here is to ensure that all Bahamians who cannot afford private insurance including many children, indigent, unemployed, elderly are covered through a funding mechanism that will create a balance for all to receive the standard health care coverage. A basic premium rate will be the consistent rate charged for the

A FORMER tourism minister yesterday said he is concerned over the pace of Grand Bahama’s economic revival telling Tribune Business: “Grand Bahama needs an injection”. Obie Wilchcombe, the former West Grand Bahama and Bimini MP told Tribune Business: “I am concerned about the pace of which things are moving on Freeport. The Minister indicated that we may be 24 months away which is a far cry from what was projected a few months ago. Grand Bahama needs an injection. It needs to get its tourism business back. Grand Bahama needs hotel inventory.” Mr Wilchcombe added: “The tourism industry needs a real shot in the arm. I note that there are some things in the pipeline but they are going to take a while. The government I suppose will argue they can only do so much but they may have to take a new approach to this thing and look at how we get more airlift and generate greater growth. The government has an opportunity to turn Grand Bahama around but people are going to have to see a new and exciting product.” Mr Wilchcombe urged the government to seek to capitalise on recent US travel restrictions to Cuba.

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Board member slapped Sands outlines surge in NHI uptake with restraining order THE NATIONAL Health Insurance (NHI) Bahamas has enrolled 56,000 beneficiaries todate according to Health Minister Dr Duane Sands revealed In Parliament yesterday, while nothing that universal heath care and national health insurance remains “unfinished business”. During his contribution to the 2019/2020 budget communication Dr Sands stated: “To date, there are 56,000 beneficiaries enrolled with the plan and covered by a package of good quality primary health care services. This represents a 122 percent in growth year over year. The Bahamas has been on the journey to fully implement Universal Health Care (UHC) for its residents for over 30 years; and we are

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