Bermudas: masiva marcha en apoyo a trabajadores despedidos

Strike

The powerful Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU) Wednesday staged a massive show of strength in the capital support of 10 workers sacked by an historic hotel here last week.

The dispute has gone to arbitration, but the BIU appears not willing to participate.

Government said bus services were hit, while ferries were cancelled, as union workers downed tools in support of the workers dismissed by the Fairmont Hamilton Princess hotel.

Five of the dismissed workers are members of the union.

The industrial action escalated on Wednesday morning when staff at the resort’s sister hotel, the Fairmont Southampton, voted to walk off the job. Unionised hotel workers marked that decision with a march through the streets of the capital at lunchtime.

The BIU promised an even greater show of strength later in the day, with members from all union divisions — including transport workers — called in for another protest march.

“The march was a result of a meeting that we had this morning. Members from both hotel properties and all our general council members met this morning and decided enough was enough and decided to ask me to put a call out to the entire union membership to come up to Union Square as soon as they could make it, “ said BIU president Chris Furbert.

“We are anticipating that in the next hour or two we should get many more members of the BIU to come here and get behind the members of the Fairmont Southampton and Hamilton Princess.”

Furbert said he did not know how services would be affected by any further march later on Wednesday.

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