The Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort on Cable Beach is set to re-open tomorrow after a summer filled with controversy.

In August, the resort announced that it would be temporarily closing to commence much needed infrastructural repairs, subsequently making over 600 workers redundant.

Prior to this, in July, several workers were arrested after protesting what they described as unfair working conditions at the hotel, but the group has since been vindicated.

The resort was initially expected to open its doors last week, but suffered setbacks as a result of damage suffered from Hurricane Matthew.

The Journal spoke with Sandals Manager Lazar Charlton who said despite the inconveniences, the resort is ready to go.

“We had the exact same setbacks that most people had – damages to the roof that enabled a few leaks, water coming in through doorways but nothing major that would prevent the hotel from functioning at optimal capacity on the 25th,” Mr. Charlton said.

In related news, the resort announced sometime last month that it had rehired 180 of the 600 former employees that were let go as a result of the closure. However, according to Donnell Ferguson, president of the Bahamas Hotel Maintenance and Allied Workers Union (BHMAWU) only a small percentage of that number represents union members.

“Only 10 percent of the re-hired 180 workers are union members. So it’s obviously a union busting tactic right there,” Ms. Ferguson said.

“Their intention is to get rid of the union but they have a much bigger problem because the union is still there and we are the bargaining agent for these people.”

Ms. Ferguson also added that she has been made aware of changes in staff policy at the resort despite executives not making any contact with union representatives.

“To my knowledge, they have new policies but they have not consulted the union. When you introduce new policies, you sit down and speak with the union. That has not happened to this date,” she said.

BHMAWU has had a long-standing dispute with Sandals over the issue of union recognition.

In 2011, the BHMAWU secured a ruling by the Privy Council that it be recognized as the bargaining agent for Sandals Royal Bahamian employees.

Despite this however, Sandals has reportedly refused to negotiate with BHMAWU.