A Bermudian hotel worker yesterday blasted the criticism of his colleagues which came from a major hotel company local representative.

Sonesta Beach Resort's Raymond Russell, Sr. said Rafael Resort's William Guthrie's statement that local hotel workers needed an attitude adjustment, as reported in Wednesday's The Royal Gazette , reflected the overall poor treatment of local employees by overseas managers.

"The attitude of the workers in Bermuda's tourism industry is a reflection of management,'' he said.

"They think black Bermudians are cattle employees and they show this in what they do, what they say, how they act and the way they treat us real mean.

"How do they expect workers to feel?'' he asked. "He's got a lot of nerve.'' Mr. Guthrie told The Royal Gazette that updating the Island's physical tourism-related plant would not revitalise the industry unless it was coupled with a revamp in attitudes amongst employees.

He said overseas experiences with tourism staff showed him that Bermuda's staff did not have as good an attitude.

"So many'' people in Bermuda had an arrogant, unhelpful and hostile attitude, he said.

Mr. Russell said: "Who does he think he is? People like that should not be in this Country. They come in and treat people like dirt.'' Managers used to be sensitive, he noted, but now they treated their employees like cattle.

"How do they expect us to respond?'' he asked. "It's impossible to be nice to the guests when you're treated like that. They treat people like trash. How do they expect people to feel happy?'' Coupled with poor treatment, continued Mr. Russell, was the poor wages many people working in the hotels earned.

"There are some people working in hotels who are not even making $18,000 a year. They can barely pay their rents and he's talking about attitudes.

"Hotels keep workers unsound when they are not sensitive to their economic needs or the way they treat them as people. At one time they were, but not now.

"The people who come into this Country better behave themselves and watch their tone.''