A long-fought battle over the pensions due to Hamiltonian hotel workers has ended.

Ninety-one workers of the former Hamiltonian Hotel and Island Club are now being paid the benefits of contributions denied them for over a decade.

Community activist Raymond Russell worked tirelessly on their behalf for more than 16 years.

As a result of his efforts, former Hamiltonian workers aged 65 and older have been awarded a lump sum to make up for money deprived to them.

Workers not yet of pension age will receive their share at age 65; a similar sum will be paid to the families of workers who have since died.

Mr. Russell, a hotel worker himself for 40 years, heard about the workers' plight and got involved.

He approached the key figures at the Hamiltonian and encouraged them to see the situation "in a humane way".

After nearly five years of court battles, brought on by then Attorney General Larry Mussenden, some of the hotel workers were finally given their money last month.

Mr. Russell, 70, said: "It is wonderful and I can sleep comfortable knowing that justice has been done. Thank God for that and I really feel good about this here.

"They are happy about that when they see me they thank me which is the important thing.

"But I am not happy that the Union President and its officers were paid good wages and accepted good benefits yet didn't seek to look after those people — and look after them first.

"They should have been checking every year on those sorts of things. That is what they have been paid for."

Mr. Russell has criticised the way the Bermuda Industrial Union handled the hotel workers, particularly the house keeping staff who he said made approximately $21,000 a year and worked two or more jobs just to make ends meet.

A majority of those affected didn't even know how their pensions operated. Mr. Russell believes 90 percent didn't know they were being shortchanged.

But instead of being given the monthly pensions they were due – between $900 to $1100 – they received around $500 or $600, he said. Many had to seek financial assistance from Government.

"Why doesn't the Union inform people, have a meeting with them and say what amount of your money has been taken out.Union members do not even know what their officers are making.

"That should be something they should know but they do not so they are always in line to be economically abused by those that say they are representing them." he said, adding that there are dozens of other companies on the Island doing exactly what the Hamiltonian did.

Mr. Russell said: "The most important thing is that those companies now know they are going to have to start paying up or facing [court] charges."

"That is the body of it. You can't have people up there working weekends and deducting pensions from their pay cheque and not handing it over."

The BIU could not be reached for comment last night