Martin sweeps hotel union election

Thu, Feb 28th 2013, 02:24 PM

Nicole Martin has led her team to another victory in the Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union (BHCAWU) election, wiping out former chief shop steward David Beckford and Atlantis Resort engineer Tyrone Knowles.
Martin secured 1,626 votes in New Providence from three polling stations, according to unofficial results from the Department of Labour.
Beckford secured 387 votes while Knowles got 138.
However, designated officer for the elections Ernest Burrows said Beckford beat Martin in Freeport, but the results from the entire Grand Bahama were not released up to press time.
Up to last night, the count from the other Family Islands had also not been released.
But those 500 votes or thereabouts would have no bearing on Martin's victory.
They include 100 in San Salvador; 15 in Andros, 71 in Eleuthera and 232 in Grand Bahama.
"Honestly, I feel vindicated by the members because all of the things that were said by those vying for office," Martin said.
Along the campaign trail, Beckford accused Martin's administration of failing to pay out benefits to members, but Martin refuted the claims and said her team worked hard to clear up the backlog of outstanding matters.
"I'm happy that now I can continue the work that I have started," she said. "That includes the issue with the Wyndham workers.
"That is on top of the agenda, as well as contract negotiations with the mega hotels of course and making decisions to get the union back where it needs to be, to be a viable business."
Baha Mar laid off 140 workers from its Wyndham resort a few weeks ago.
Beckford said he intends to challenge the results, claiming, "the numbers simply do not add up".
The election on Tuesday was ordered by Chief Justice Sir Michael Barnett, who ruled that the term of the executive board, led by Martin began in May 2009 and expired in May 2012.
Barnett made his ruling on a constitutional motion filed by Beckford.

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