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POVERTY-LINE WORKERS PAY, PAY AND PAY! The Increased tex proposals, outiined in his latest "balanced budget" by Finance Minister, David Gibbons, ^ hit hardest at those least able to pay. His proposal for w^^bling (in some cases) of taxes on licence fees, fuel and the Hospital Levy will place further demands on those who are already struggling to make ends meet. Such increases will place a burden on ALL workers. But at least, workers in Government and in the business lector generally are earning a reasonable weekly wage which is assured. (Thanks, In large measure to the Influence of the Bermuda Industrial Union and other trade unions In the Island) However, the hotel workers are In a different category. Their basic wages are calculated on the asiumption that they will make X number of dollars extra in gratuities. But thera is no assurance as to how much extra. The gratuities fluctuate with the occupancy numbers in the hotels and guest houses through the year. Many workers, especially In the area of housekeeping In the hotels, cottage colonies and guest houses, earn an average take-home pay of $143 to $150 per week, over the year. Those figures are based on an average 70% occupancy rate. Also, those figures apply to the workers In the big hotels. In the smaller cottage colonies and guest houses, that figure Is even lower. GRATUITOUS POVERTY Working on such Information and figures as are available, our Research Department has arrived at an approximate figure for the Poverty Line. That figure Is approximately $223.00 per week for a family of four persons. All Indications are that the average worker's family consists of at least four persons. In all the hotels and guest houses, the majority of the tipped steff are In the lower basic wage bracket For instance, at one of our big hotels, out of a totel of about " ^ workers who receive gratuities, about 68 are in the jsekeeping department. And many of these workers are tlie heads of single parent homes, the sole providers for their families. The above figures demonstrate that the majority of workers In the housekeeping departments of all hotels, guest houses and cottage colonies are taking home a pay packet which is BELOW tfie Poverty Line — and that's WITH gratuities added. Also the figures provided apply to those who work in the large hotels. Those who work in the analler cottage colonies and guest houses take home even bss. BERMUDIANS AT THE BOTTOM It is these hardworking Bermudians at the bottom of the wage scale, who contribute directly to the well-being of our guests. And It Is THEIR labour which helps to Increase the profitability of such enterprises. Which, In tum, (as the Govemment informs us) provides profitable employment for the majority of those connected with the tourist industry In this colony. Under tfie proposed increased texati<»i, these are the workers who will be hit hardest In their teke-home wage packets. Many are already struggling to make ends meet and to provide adequate housing, food and clothing and, in (Continued on page 8) mmmmmmmmmmmummmmmmmmm General Council Group To Attend George Meany Labour Centre Seminar A group of 23 BIU members from the General Council and a w_w divisional officers and shop stewards are due to leave Bermuda this Sunday for the George Meany Centre for Labour Studies in Silver Spring, Maryland, for a seven-day leadership training course. The unionists will be the guests of the American Institute for Free Labour Development (AIFLD) who sponsor workers'education for the Caribbean and Latin America areas as well as the mainland. The group, who will be housed on the George Meany campus, will be led by the two vice presidents of the union and the education offlcet They Include: Sister Barbara Outerbridge, Brothers George Baisden. Kenneth Pilgrim, Stan Lee, Amold West, Clarkston Tankard, Robert Wilson, Norris Smith, Victor Fishlngton, Chris Furbert, James Burgess, Wendell Hassell, George Smith, Ira Thompson, Alfred Bean, Collin Simmons and Kenneth Burgess (General Council members). Also attending t\n course are Brothers Lionel Pearman, Calvin Ming, Winston J. R. Jones, Leroy Bean, David Brangman and Austin Wilson St (Trustee). ^SPSlt Copy Vol. 10. No. 14. Hamilton, Bermuda - Friday, March 6, 1981 Price: 15c. •P li 5 ^^^^^^^^^^^p ^^^^r^^^^v ^^^^B^^^^w Tii'giiff • f ' r t S w B B B B I NO AGREEMENT YET! Members of the negotiating team representing several Government departments pose for a photograph just before going to another round of telks to hammer out a new collective agreement The negotiations have been going on for over four months with no sign of reaching a settlement. The old agreement expired December 31,1980. IMMMM^MMMNAAAMAA^^ Hotel Workers To March on House To Protest Govemment's Proposals At a packed meeting of the Hotel, Restaurant and Nightclub Division of the Bermuda Industrial Union, held Tuesday evening, it was imanimously agreed that workers in Bermuda's leading industry would march on the House of Assembly today (Friday) to protest Govemment*s proposal to tax their gratuities. Tfaey plan to faand over to Premier David Gibbons a petition, signed by hundreds of workers, asking faim to re-consider increasing the Hospital Levy (income tax) on wages generally, and putting a tax oa tiieir gratuities ^>ecifically. A visibly angry meetii^ heard Shadow Minister of Finance, Frederick Wade, Dr. Barbara BaU (BIU Research Officer) and BIU Secretary General, Eldridge Brimmer point out tfae "evils" of this proposed tax measure. Tfae workers were told tfaat tfaey sfaould not be expected to accept this extra burden on their aheady hard-hit pay packete, and that tfaey, and only tfaey, were m a position to do sometfaing about it. The proposed march CHI the House, we understand, was just one form of protest whicfa tfae workers intend to pursue. LOOK INSIDE FOR . . . Editorial Page 2 Where It's At Page 4 2,000th Member Page 5 BeIco Hearing Page 6 Southerners Page 7 Co-op News Page 8 SEMINAR. Participants of a seminar held this week at BIU Headquarters take time out from the classroom to pose for the photographer. They are: Sisters Enith Symons, Glorita Seymour, Darlene Smith, Laverne Scott, Louella Pearson; Brothers David Landy, Leslie Virgil, Larry King, John Tucker, Leonard Davis, Dennis Ottiey, Jack Eve and Randy Simons. Not present for the picture were: Walter Millett, Willard Raynor and Vernon Lightbourne.
Object Description
Rating | |
Title | Workers Voice |
Date | 1981-03-06 |
Masthead | The Workers Voice |
Publisher | Bermuda Industrial Union |
Year | 1981 |
Month | March |
Type | Bi-monthly newsletter |
Source | Bermuda National Library |
Volume | 10 |
Issue | 14 |
Creator | Local Studies |
Format | |
Language | English |
Description
Title | Page 1 |
Date | 1981-03-06 |
Masthead | The Workers Voice |
Publisher | Bermuda Industrial Union |
Year | 1981 |
Month | March |
Type | Bi-monthly newsletter |
Source | Bermuda National Library |
Volume | 10 |
Issue | 14 |
Creator | Local Studies |
Format | |
Language | English |
FullText | POVERTY-LINE WORKERS PAY, PAY AND PAY! The Increased tex proposals, outiined in his latest "balanced budget" by Finance Minister, David Gibbons, ^ hit hardest at those least able to pay. His proposal for w^^bling (in some cases) of taxes on licence fees, fuel and the Hospital Levy will place further demands on those who are already struggling to make ends meet. Such increases will place a burden on ALL workers. But at least, workers in Government and in the business lector generally are earning a reasonable weekly wage which is assured. (Thanks, In large measure to the Influence of the Bermuda Industrial Union and other trade unions In the Island) However, the hotel workers are In a different category. Their basic wages are calculated on the asiumption that they will make X number of dollars extra in gratuities. But thera is no assurance as to how much extra. The gratuities fluctuate with the occupancy numbers in the hotels and guest houses through the year. Many workers, especially In the area of housekeeping In the hotels, cottage colonies and guest houses, earn an average take-home pay of $143 to $150 per week, over the year. Those figures are based on an average 70% occupancy rate. Also, those figures apply to the workers In the big hotels. In the smaller cottage colonies and guest houses, that figure Is even lower. GRATUITOUS POVERTY Working on such Information and figures as are available, our Research Department has arrived at an approximate figure for the Poverty Line. That figure Is approximately $223.00 per week for a family of four persons. All Indications are that the average worker's family consists of at least four persons. In all the hotels and guest houses, the majority of the tipped steff are In the lower basic wage bracket For instance, at one of our big hotels, out of a totel of about " ^ workers who receive gratuities, about 68 are in the jsekeeping department. And many of these workers are tlie heads of single parent homes, the sole providers for their families. The above figures demonstrate that the majority of workers In the housekeeping departments of all hotels, guest houses and cottage colonies are taking home a pay packet which is BELOW tfie Poverty Line — and that's WITH gratuities added. Also the figures provided apply to those who work in the large hotels. Those who work in the analler cottage colonies and guest houses take home even bss. BERMUDIANS AT THE BOTTOM It is these hardworking Bermudians at the bottom of the wage scale, who contribute directly to the well-being of our guests. And It Is THEIR labour which helps to Increase the profitability of such enterprises. Which, In tum, (as the Govemment informs us) provides profitable employment for the majority of those connected with the tourist industry In this colony. Under tfie proposed increased texati<»i, these are the workers who will be hit hardest In their teke-home wage packets. Many are already struggling to make ends meet and to provide adequate housing, food and clothing and, in (Continued on page 8) mmmmmmmmmmmummmmmmmmm General Council Group To Attend George Meany Labour Centre Seminar A group of 23 BIU members from the General Council and a w_w divisional officers and shop stewards are due to leave Bermuda this Sunday for the George Meany Centre for Labour Studies in Silver Spring, Maryland, for a seven-day leadership training course. The unionists will be the guests of the American Institute for Free Labour Development (AIFLD) who sponsor workers'education for the Caribbean and Latin America areas as well as the mainland. The group, who will be housed on the George Meany campus, will be led by the two vice presidents of the union and the education offlcet They Include: Sister Barbara Outerbridge, Brothers George Baisden. Kenneth Pilgrim, Stan Lee, Amold West, Clarkston Tankard, Robert Wilson, Norris Smith, Victor Fishlngton, Chris Furbert, James Burgess, Wendell Hassell, George Smith, Ira Thompson, Alfred Bean, Collin Simmons and Kenneth Burgess (General Council members). Also attending t\n course are Brothers Lionel Pearman, Calvin Ming, Winston J. R. Jones, Leroy Bean, David Brangman and Austin Wilson St (Trustee). ^SPSlt Copy Vol. 10. No. 14. Hamilton, Bermuda - Friday, March 6, 1981 Price: 15c. •P li 5 ^^^^^^^^^^^p ^^^^r^^^^v ^^^^B^^^^w Tii'giiff • f ' r t S w B B B B I NO AGREEMENT YET! Members of the negotiating team representing several Government departments pose for a photograph just before going to another round of telks to hammer out a new collective agreement The negotiations have been going on for over four months with no sign of reaching a settlement. The old agreement expired December 31,1980. IMMMM^MMMNAAAMAA^^ Hotel Workers To March on House To Protest Govemment's Proposals At a packed meeting of the Hotel, Restaurant and Nightclub Division of the Bermuda Industrial Union, held Tuesday evening, it was imanimously agreed that workers in Bermuda's leading industry would march on the House of Assembly today (Friday) to protest Govemment*s proposal to tax their gratuities. Tfaey plan to faand over to Premier David Gibbons a petition, signed by hundreds of workers, asking faim to re-consider increasing the Hospital Levy (income tax) on wages generally, and putting a tax oa tiieir gratuities ^>ecifically. A visibly angry meetii^ heard Shadow Minister of Finance, Frederick Wade, Dr. Barbara BaU (BIU Research Officer) and BIU Secretary General, Eldridge Brimmer point out tfae "evils" of this proposed tax measure. Tfae workers were told tfaat tfaey sfaould not be expected to accept this extra burden on their aheady hard-hit pay packete, and that tfaey, and only tfaey, were m a position to do sometfaing about it. The proposed march CHI the House, we understand, was just one form of protest whicfa tfae workers intend to pursue. LOOK INSIDE FOR . . . Editorial Page 2 Where It's At Page 4 2,000th Member Page 5 BeIco Hearing Page 6 Southerners Page 7 Co-op News Page 8 SEMINAR. Participants of a seminar held this week at BIU Headquarters take time out from the classroom to pose for the photographer. They are: Sisters Enith Symons, Glorita Seymour, Darlene Smith, Laverne Scott, Louella Pearson; Brothers David Landy, Leslie Virgil, Larry King, John Tucker, Leonard Davis, Dennis Ottiey, Jack Eve and Randy Simons. Not present for the picture were: Walter Millett, Willard Raynor and Vernon Lightbourne. |
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