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The Royal Oasis Resort and Casino continues to be defiant even with the international E-mail campaign against their unfair and unjust treatment of their casino employees.
The Gaming Union has written several letters to the Resort inviting them to continue negotiations between ourselves to bring some sort of job security for their casino employees who have been working without a formal contract since the introduction of the casinos in the Bahamas.
But what is more disturbing is the lackadaisical attitude of our present government in enforcing the statue of laws against the Resort.
But this type of behavior is no surprise to the Gaming Union as we believe and it is evident that successive governments of the Bahamas know that our industrial court called the Tribunal is inadequate and higher courts such as the supreme court cost too much to litigate and can take years to conclude.
The Government of the Bahamas has given the Gaming Union recognition, but they are keenly aware of the many trials and disappointments this Union and many others will face as we are a small Union with limited financial resources.
Hence, the Government's reluctance to sign or make law ILO convention 87 , even thought the Bahamas is a member country and sits on the board for the Caribbean.
The Government is also aware of the E-mail Campaign but has not responded in any form or fashion which leads the Union to believe that they hope that if ignored long enough it will go away.
The Gaming Union is presently taking the matter to court and if victorious a fine will be levied against the Resort and hopefully a prison sentence of up to two years in jail will be given to the Employer.
This is the first time our Industrial Relations Laws has been put to the test in this fashion .
So I thank you and your members for their support. I will update you on any future developments.(Court date August 23,2004)
In Solidarity,Dennis A. Britton Jr.
President
Bahamas Gaming & Allied Workers Union
UP. OF. Box IF-43070
Freeport, Grand Bahama Island Email: dennisbrittonjr@coralwave.com
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