Industrial Action looming at EL GRECO HOTEL

The
Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU) has written to Labour and Social
Security Minister Shahine Robinson appealing for her intervention to stave off
industrial action at the National Insurance Fund owned El Greco Hotel in
Montego Bay St James.

This
comes on the heels of the sudden dismissal of one of the Unions delegates, who
is also in longevity the most senior employee at the hotel. The BITU contends
that this latest move continues an unfortunate trend of disregard and disrespect
shown to the Unionized workers. According to Collin Virgo, Chief Organizer for
the BITU “the workers are highly restive over this issue in particular but also
a number of other issues including a seemingly concentrated effort to Union
bust, the fear amongst employees to even ask simple questions or query a new
rule or policy when one is implemented. The management has their “favorites”
and blue eyed babies but the rest of the staff have indicated to the BITU that
they work in constant fear of victimization and intimidation….”.

The
BITU has also written to the Board of the El Greco Hotel demanding an immediate
Management Audit of the entire facility as there has been little or no response
to a raft of issues raised several times over the past few years.

The
workers also allege that several casual employees have been brought on in
recent times, to spite Unionized workers who were carrying out the same tasks
but requested a little extra for carrying out additional duties. Yet, vacancies
for unfilled positions remain.

The BITU is hopeful that Minister
Robinson will use her power and have those issues clarified and resolved, so
that there is minimal or no disruption come tomorrow morning.