February 11, 2014

Dear Sir,

I only wish that all of the blind followers of the BIU, who chose to go out on strike last week, could read Bob Stewart’s article in the weekly newspaper. It was entitled “Putting staff before customers is financial suicide”.

In The Royal Gazette I read that the local musicians are prepared “to make a noise about fair practice”, which means they intend to demand jobs for themselves!

So getting back to Bob’s article, where he clearly spells out that it is financial suicide IF you don’t listen to the customers. The customers are the ones paying for services and they are the ones who make the decision.

The Musicians Union is basically telling employers to ignore the wishes of the customers and provide what the Musicians Union want them to provide. Have they never heard that old expression “the customer is always right” — apparently not.

It would be perfect if the Musicians Union could, in fact, provide exactly what the employer/customer wanted, but what if they cannot? What then?

To force employers to hire a local musician if he needs to bring in foreign entertainment, would make it non-viable.

People wonder why there is no entertainment in Bermuda nowadays — ask the Musician’s Union as they won’t allow a permit to be issued unless they are employed as well, thereby doubling the cost to the employer.

The Dept of Immigration is in a dreadful situation, wanting to keep locals happy, but understanding that the paying customer needs to be considered also.

Don’t get me wrong, I think it would be wonderful if the paying customers wanted to listen to our local musicians as that would be a win/win situation. However, for the Musician’s Union to feel they have the right to demand to be hired is — to put it bluntly — most unsettling.

BRIDGET