Nassau, Bahamas - After years of sometimes "heated" negotiations, a three-year industrial agreement that is expected to benefit non-line staff workers at Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort was inked yesterday.

According to executives of the Bahamas Hotel Managerial Association (BHMA), which represents the approximately 75 Sheraton employees who will be covered under the agreement, negotiations between the union and hotel executives lasted for nearly a decade.

On hand for the signing were senior executives from Sheraton and BHMA, as well as Vice-president of External Affairs and Communications at Baha Mar Robert Sands.

Sands told the media that he was pleased negotiations had finally reached the "finish line."

"The parties signed a three-year agreement between The Bahamas Hotel Managerial Association and the Cable Beach Resorts Limited on behalf of management employees of the Sheraton Resort," said Sands.

According to him, the agreement will include three new terms and agreements that will greatly benefit the Sheraton employees.

"In that agreement, three new benefits have been reached," he said. "Firstly, we have an agreement to agree on a perfect attendance incentive for members who fall under this bargaining agreement.

"Secondly, we will be putting in place, or formalizing, an agreement to do management reviews of all persons in this category that will then determine their ability to receive merit increases going forward. Thirdly, there is an employee assistance fund that has been established to assist with the multiple issues that may arise from time to time."

Sands added that the hotel's management believes the expansion of the bargaining unit with the addition of the three new agreements in the contract is a step in the right direction for the hotel and its staff.

BHMA President Obie Ferguson, who also signed the industrial agreement, commended the Sheraton executives for what he called their mature handling of the negotiations.

"The important thing is that these negotiations demonstrate maturity," said Ferguson. "We recognize the state of the economy but at the same time we have an obligation to the workers.

"I want to say as a national leader of labor that we must always demonstrate a sense of responsibility in negotiating and being sensitive to employees' concerns. That is important."

He added, "I want to encourage the workers of this hotel to go and make the extra mile and perfect their job and satisfy our guests, because it is clear that there is something now in place for your performance," he said. "If you perform well the company will consider those factors in the merit system."

The new industrial agreement for the 75 workers will expire in November 2012.

Article SOURCE