Union chief Chris Furbert today accused local footballing legend Shaun Goater of sacking workers at his airport services company because they joined the BIU.Mr Furbert claimed Mr Goater and his business partner Nick Faries at Renaissance Aviation were guilty of “union busting” at a press conference at BIU headquarters in Hamilton.But the company, owned by the East End Group Ltd, strenuously denied the allegation and said the “difficult step” to sever the employment of seven staff was taken only after several attempts to get them to agree to a necessary wage drop.“Counter to the BIU's claims, we have repeatedly and sincerely stated to the BIU and the Labour Department that we have absolutely no objection to union representation of our staff,” the company said in a statement.“Formal process for this to occur is underway with a tribunal meeting scheduled for March 3.”Mr Furbert told the media the actions of Renaissance breached the Employment Act and Trade, Economy and Industry Minister Kim Wilson had been notified.Flanked by about 20 staff who have lost their job at the company since the start of the year, either through redundancy or termination, Mr Furbert said some felt “intimidated and coerced” into agreeing to the ten percent pay cut and refused.The BIU president said he sent a letter to Renaissance in October asking for union recognition for customer service agents. In early January, he added, the firm made ten to 12 staff redundant.Another letter for recognition for airport ramp workers and cleaners was sent from the union on January 10, according to Mr Furbert.“Three to four weeks ago the management have asked staff to take a ten percent reduction in pay,” he said, adding employees were told if they didn't accept the cut they'd lose their jobs.The union president said he attended a “cordial” meeting last Friday with Mr Goater, Mr Faries and Martin Law, from Bermuda Employers' Council.He said three staff were then terminated on Wednesday for refusing to accept the cut and four more the next day.“I think the public at large should be well aware of the situation,” he said. “I don't know if this is an isolated incident [but] it's very disturbing if it's happening like this with unorganised workers who are trying to get organised.“Ninety nine percent of the employees who have been fired are paid up BIU members.”Asked by a reporter if it was a case of union-busting, Mr Furbert replied: “Yes.”Mr Faries, who owns East End Group with Mr Goater, Tim Vieria and Brett Marshall, told The Royal Gazette the company had no knowledge of which staff had joined the BIU.The Renaissance Aviation statement said the company recently met with its workforce to announce an across-the-board ten percent pay cut for management and staff.“All non-payroll related expenditures have already been the target of cost reductions since the beginning of 2011, as a consequence of the current economic climate.“Unfortunately, a small minority of staff felt unable to accept this reduction, and after much discussion, including recommendations to the staff by labour relations officers and the BIU, and their subsequent refusal to accept, the difficult step was taken to sever their employment, effective February 24.”The company, which employs 46 Bermudians or spouses of Bermudians and no guest workers, added: “We deeply regret the effect that this reduction will have on our valued employees and are taking this necessary step only after significant time and effort has been made reviewing all current and forecasted expenditure levels.“Regarding the recent severance of these seven employees, we are very concerned about the misrepresentation of this issue by the BIU, as we gave this small group of staff every opportunity to agree to the required pay reduction.“These attempts included meeting with the BIU, though they are not currently representatives of our staff, at which point any coercion claims were categorically denied.“At this meeting the economic reality of the situation was explained and BIU management agreed that our request was valid and stated that they intended to recommend acceptance of the pay reduction to the staff at a meeting on February 18.“Only after we made two subsequent attempts to gain employee agreement on February 21 and 22, and after extending the deadline twice, did we find ourselves forced to move to severance.”The firm said it was confident the pay reduction would safeguard all remaining staff positions, providing forecasted flight schedules were not reduced this year.Senator Wilson said: “At this time I am not in a position to comment on the Renaissance Aviation matter, save that the matter is being addressed by the Labour Relations Office.”Mr Furbert will hold a special general council meeting on Monday at noon at union headquarters regarding the issue.