Published: May 08, 2008 10:23 pm         

The Greenbrier ‘adjusts its staffing’ to meet demands

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS — Greenbrier resort officials would neither confirm nor deny Thursday that major layoffs are taking place at the county’s largest employer due to lack of business and an ongoing labor dispute. However, several restaurants at the hotel are now closed or operating under reduced hours.

“The Greenbrier constantly adjusts its staffing and room inventory levels to meet seasonal and business demands,” director of communications Lynn Swann said. “We will be doing so over the next several months due to an anticipated shortfall in occupancy. We are making responsible business decisions.”

Swann said a new restaurant, Hemisphere, is closed and there is currently not a date for it to open. Another restaurant, Drapers, is only open for lunch during the weekdays, and Sam’s Snead’s restaurant has been closed during the weekdays, but will be open on Friday and Saturday, and for a brunch on Sundays.

The resort’s new cocktail lounge, 3880, is also closed because of “additional construction” being done, Swann said.

Previously, Greenbrier officials said the resort had “lost a significant amount of revenue” due to the prolonged labor dispute. Swann said two dates have been set (May 14 and 29) for labor talks concerning the resort’s master agreement. Other talks are also scheduled for the union’s nine individual contracts, she said.

The union’s five-year contract with the resort expired in January and employees are now working under the terms of their old agreement.

Peter Bostic, secretary and treasurer Local 863 of UNITE HERE, called the employment situation “unfortunate.”

“With Hemisphere not opening, that’s directly 15 employees that are affected and not getting any hours,” Bostic said late Thursday. “The company has not released any exact lists concerning employees, but they have had discussions to make folks aware that there is a possibility that people will be laid off. They have not formalized them yet, so it’s hard for people to know where the cutoffs are. The union feels the current conditions at The Greenbrier are very unfortunate and will have a long-reaching impact into the community.”

During the peak tourist season, the resort normally employees about 1,100 union employees and another 500 non-union employees.

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cgiggenbach@register-herald.com