BITU threatens strike at El Greco Hotel
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU) has written to Minister of Labour and Social Security, Shahine Robinson, seeking her intervention to stave off a threat of industrial action at the El Greco Hotel in Montego Bay, St James, today.
BITU chief organiser, Collin Virgo, says that this comes on the heels of the sudden dismissal of one of the union’s delegates, who is also the most senior employee at the hotel.“The BITU contends that this latest move continues a trend of disregard and disrespect shown to the unionised workers,” Virgo told OBSERVER ONLINE yesterday.According to him, the workers “are highly restive” over this issue in particular, as well as a number of others, including what they see as a concentrated effort at union busting by the management of the hotel.He said that 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.He also said is hopeful that the minister will use her power to have the issues clarified and resolved, so that there is no disruption today.The hotel is owned by the Government’s National Insurance Fund. Balford Henry