Categorized | National News

Hotel Union Sets Dates For Election

Days after a decision was handed down by the Chief Justice ordering that elections for The Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union (BHCAWU) take place by February 28, union executives Monday announced the dates for those elections.

The union announced Monday that nomination of officers will take place on Monday.

The election of officers is scheduled for at the union’s two-day triennial meeting from February 25 through February 26.

Chief Justice Sir Michael Barnett ruled on a constitutional motion filed by the union’s former shop steward, Dave Beckford, who sought clarity in terms of when union members should hold their next election.

The current BHCAWU executive team was elected in May 2009. The union’s elections take place every three years.

However, Nicole Martin, president of the BHCAWU, has argued that her tenure does not expire until the end of this year. Though elected in May 2009, Ms. Martin and her executive team were not certified as the winners until April 2010.

But Mr. Beckford has also called for an investigation and possible legal action against the current administration for allegedly receiving salaries while not in office.

“The court gave a ruling that the former executive [team] had to go back in office in and Nicole Martin and her team had to vacate office,” he said. “So when I see salaries dated back from January [2010], it means that they would’ve back paid themselves.

“Secondly, the court has ruled that as of May 2012 because of them failing to have a triennial meeting to call elections, their term in office expired and so they are receiving salaries from May when they were supposed to call elections until now.”

Ms. Martin and her team are seeking re-election while Mr. Beckford and Tyrone Knowles are expected to run for the top job.

Ms. Martin has stated that reforming the union’s constitution will be among the top priorities of her administration.

Mr. Beckford has promised to bring accountability and transparency to the union if he is elected president.

Written by Jones Bahamas

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