Sam Lord’s layoffs challenge rosy industry forecasts

nother hotel has come under the fire of the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) for sending home a chunk of its workforce, with general secretary Toni Moore accusing the Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lords Castle Resort of “blindsiding” and “betraying” its workers. She claimed that up to 150 workers across all levels could be made redundant in what the resort termed a “streamlining” exercise.

 

“The way these layoffs were conducted reveals a shocking lack of empathy and a blatant disregard for basic decency,” Moore said in a statement. She expressed disbelief at the layoffs, which she said were difficult to reconcile with recent optimistic reports from tourism officials.

 

The resort’s spokeswoman JoyAnn Haigh of Haigh Communications is however insisting that the layoffs were not unusual in the tourism sector for this time of year when occupancy is low.

 

“Our investigations so far have uncovered that a significant number of employees—spanning all levels from line staff to directors—have been handed their walking papers,” Moore said. “It is our understanding that by the time this so-called ‘streamlining’ exercise concludes, the number of redundancies could reach in the region of 150 employees.”

 

The BWU general secretary also challenged the resort’s justification for the redundancies, citing low occupancy as a poor excuse.

 

She noted that this narrative conflicts with the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) President Javon Griffith’s recent statements.

 

Griffith had reported a positive outlook for the sector, highlighting that “early forward bookings from major source markets [are] exceeding 2023 by 18 per cent” and that “from January to June 2024, the island welcomed 381 997 stayover arrivals—a 15 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2023.”

 

Moore queried: “Who are we to believe? What are the real motives behind these actions [layoffs]?”

 

Haigh countered Moore’s claims, stating that the number of layoffs was far lower than suggested.

 

“One layoff is one too many; however, those numbers are not accurate. There were actually 35 persons that had to be relieved of their duties over the last two days,” Haigh said. She insisted that the layoffs were standard practice in the tourism sector during periods of low occupancy and that the affected workers could reapply for their positions.

 

“They’re definitely being done because of low occupancy. As you know, this is not the tourist season, and it’s the norm across the board in most hotels. It’s no different for Wyndham Sam Lord’s Castle,” Haigh said.

 

Moore, however, expressed further outrage, claiming that the layoffs contradicted assurances given to workers in a general staff meeting weeks earlier. According to her, staff had agreed to a reduction in hours and pay, only to be abruptly dismissed without warning. She condemned the manner in which the layoffs were conducted, describing it as a “shocking lack of empathy and a blatant disregard for basic decency.” Moore alleged that workers were humiliated, forced to return their uniforms, and followed by security.

 

Haigh maintained that all legal processes had been followed, and consultations were held with both the BHTA and the Labour Department. Addressing the uniform issue, Haigh said it was standard procedure to return branded uniforms before departing the company, especially in light of a recent viral incident involving an unrelated individual wearing a Barbados Water Authority shirt while holding a gun.

 

Regarding the staff meeting, Haigh reiterated that it was clearly communicated that if occupancy levels, which are currently below 50 per cent, did not improve, adjustments to payroll would be necessary.

 

Moore concluded by urging tourism workers to join unions, declaring that “abuses thrive in environments where there is no union representation”. She argued that had this situation, along with a similar one at Sandals Resort in Dover, unfolded in a unionised setting, a more coordinated and strategic response could have been made to protect workers’ rights.

 

Last month, the BWU general secretary first raised concerns about the redundancy of more than 200 workers at Sandals Resort. The BHTA said this was a typical seasonal pattern reflecting the annual downturn in the tourism industry. sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb