BITU to represent managers at Bahia Principe
THE Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU) has claimed breaking “the glass ceiling” as far as unionising managers in the hospitality industry goes, after gaining bargaining rights last week for managers at the Grand Bahia Principe hotel in Runaway Bay, St Ann.
Results of a Representational Rights Poll conducted by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security last Wednesday showed that of 52 of the managers who took part, of which 49 voted for the union, there was a single ‘no’ vote, two ballots were spoilt and 18 managers were absent.
BITU President Senator Kavan Gayle saw it as “a significant extension of the union’s representation”, which is already at the hotel. The line staff, supervisory and clerical workers comprised two bargaining units already enjoying representation by the union for approximately the last decade.
“While representation at the level of managers and assistant mangers may be seen as ‘breaking the glass ceiling’ in the hotel industry, we must admit that the union and the hotel already share harmonious relations and we envisage that this will continue,” Senator Gayle added.
He also stated that as the next step, the union will be writing to the hotel, inviting the management to start discussions on its recognition as the bargaining agent for the unit, as well as serving notice of its desire to negotiate a collective agreement with the employer under Section 5 (A)(1) of the Labour Relations and Industrial Disputes Act (LRIDA).
Senator Gayle also emphasised that the BITU has a rich history of representing management, as well as categories above managers’ level in several organisations in Jamaica, including the financial institutions, and is looking forward to providing the same level of representation for the newly added unit.
The Grand Bahia Principe hotel is located in Runaway Bay, St Ann and forms a part of the chain of Spanishbased Grupo Piñero, which is managed by the Piñero family. There are two Grand Bahia hotels in Jamaica, approximately 14 in the Dominican Republic and nine in its home country, Spain.