KFC locations across New Providence were closed after unionized employees were offered an ultimatum by franchise owner Restaurants Bahamas Limited (RBL): Agree to reduced wages and benefits or leave the company.
RBL also rejected the Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union (BHCAWU) as the bargaining agent for approximately 120 workers in its nine outlets, and shut those locations down after KFC employees staged sit-down protests — allegedly sanctioned by the union — in the stores.
The move sent union leaders into emergency talks with Minister of Labour Dion Foulkes, as scores of KFC workers waited outside the minister’s East Hill Street office.
RBL issued a statement after the closures explaining why it had no choice other than to “temporarily close its stores until further notice”.
“The company made numerous efforts to get the union to appreciate its financial position and that, to remain viable, the company must adjust its employee benefits package to be in line with the norms of the sector in which it operates,” said KFC.
