February 4, 2014

Dear Sir,

My heart goes out to the 10 people made redundant in the recent lay-offs at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess.

I am not going to take sides in this letter as I do not have all the information, nor am I well versed in the details of the CBA.

As best I can see, it is irrelevant whether or not the hotel followed the rules. If it did not, it should be punished, but that is a question for arbitration to settle.

Management may have been way out of line, as the union asserts, but surely two wrongs don’t make a right? Walking off the job is not constructive and shows disregard for the paying guests.

I understand the need for the unionised workers to meet and discuss a way forward, however there is no need for everyone to meet all at once. Two meetings could have been held and those with a morning shift could have met in the afternoon and vice versa.

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. Everyone ends up losing. Without tourists, there are no jobs for management or labour. Nor will it matter what the newly formed Tourism Authority tries to do revive tourism. If we as a people do not consider our guests, there is no guest business.

Get it together guys. We all need to think about Bermuda first.

Sincerely,

Nick Kempe