for a holiday. With ferry and bus services scrapped, many dug deep into their pockets for taxi rides.

"It's not fair to hit the tourists,'' a Nova Scotia visitor told The Royal Gazette , adding: "Why come back to a place that's so expensive and treats you this way?'' At least two holidaymakers received refunds after buying transportation passes. Tourism Minister David Dodwell was crossing his fingers last night for an early settlement.

"Anything that takes away from visitors the opportunity for a complete vacation is not good,'' he declared. Labour Minister Quinton Edness warned the wildcat strike could deal a tourism body blow.

"People who have booked holidays from as far afield as North America and the West Indies have already called the Island worried about whether they can still visit.

"This has already hurt our potential business for this month and next month and maybe the rest of the summer, which is going to affect a lot of families.

"If business is affected there will be lay-offs and that will hurt people.'' For Bermudians there was plenty of misery, too, as postmen failed to deliver, garbage collections were disrupted and the Bermuda Telephone Company urged its customers to be patient and understanding.

Telco's assistant vice president of public relations Karla Lacey-Minors warned: "We expect there will be delays in service delivery.'' But the strife brought out the best in many Bermudians, as they pulled together to minimise disruption to their lives.

Retailers said Bermudians with cars drove stranded colleagues and friends to work.

Said Trimingham's president Eldon Trimingham: "The action is very annoying for old people and those with children but so far everybody has turned up to work.'' Visitors frustrated by wildcat strike Bermuda Union of Teachers president and Paget Primary deputy head Michael Charles said: "We've had no complaints from other schools about children not attending.

"Some children were a little late, but that was expected. Parents seemed to be coping, doing a lot of car pooling.'' Today the prospect for Bermuda's army of stranded is not much brighter -- despite hopes of industrial peace.

Acting Public Transportation Board director Dan Simmons said buses would not be running today, whatever the outcome of talks.

About 180 PTB employees, including bus drivers and mechanics, stayed away from work yesterday.

"The buses will require maintenance and servicing before they can be operated,'' said Mr. Simmons.

"The lead time for this means our buses will not be running tomorrow whatever happens.'' He added: "We are not paying any wages at this moment and we are just waiting for Government to resolve the issue.

"In a nutshell, the availability of buses depends on a resolution to the problem. '' It was another quiet day on the waterfront, too, with ferries, tugs and tenders inactive.

Said assistant Marine and Ports director Mike Golding: "We are hopeful that people will return to work shortly -- there is no indication they won't.

"The good news at the moment is that we don't have any pressing shipping matters to deal with.'' He added the arrival of a tanker tomorrow could present the first major headache, if there were no tugs.

Mr. Golding said historically Marine and Ports employees followed their union lead.

"They will go along with the programme, at least in a passive manner. So far 100 industrial workers have failed to show for work. Only three have chosen to come in.'' He added: "I suppose the biggest impact of the industrial action to date has been with the ferries.

"It has been a nuisance and inconvenience for commuters and visitors.'' Mr. Golding understood two holidaymakers, exasperated because they could not use transport passes, had protested to the Visitors Service Bureau in Hamilton.

"We refunded the money,'' he added.

The frustrations put more cash into the pockets of some taxi drivers, however.

With two children in tow, the Guidos from Boston ruefully reflected on a taxi fare from Hamilton to St. George's.

Visitors left feeling frustrated by strike "This messes up the whole day. We just bought three-day bus passes and expect good faith,'' a family member told The Royal Gazette .

He added: "Will they refund it now?'' Also taking part in the wildcat strike are hotel staff, Works and Engineering and Department of Agriculture and Fisheries employees and workers from Holmes, Williams and Purvey.

Yesterday the Electricity Supply Trade Union, which represents Belco's industrial and clerical staff and the Bermuda Gas and Utility, distanced itself from the action.

"If any employees from any of those two businesses was seen in the crowd where the action was in progress, they were there as individuals and not representing the Electricity Supply Trade Union,'' said secretary Eugene Creighton.

There were also reports of some hospital staff among the protesters.

But Bermuda Hospitals Board spokeswoman Kendaree Burgess-Fairn could not confirm them.

"The BIU is adhering to their 21-day notice as far as the board is concerned and any employees taking part in the action are probably off-duty workers or on a day off.'' Mrs. Burgess-Fairn said the hospitals had not been hit by the action.

Michael Lohan, managing director of Stevedoring Services, declined to comment last night. And nobody from the Bermuda Hotel Association could be reached for comment.

Holmes, William & Purvey's human resources executive Mike Hollis conceded the company's garages had been hit.

"Suffice it to say members of our garages who are union members have elected to follow the current demonstration.

"We sell cars and service cars and obviously we are not making money while people are not working.'' He added: "We are not happy because we are losing business.'' Of the Post Office's 79 unionised staff, 69 or 70 had stayed away from work, Postmaster General Clevelyn Crichlow pointed out.

"We have no deliveries at all. Delivery people, janitors and drivers are out.

"We've had no major problems so far. We just have to wait and see when this thing is over.'' Mr. Crichlow said Post Office staff belonged to either the BIU or the Bermuda Public Services Association.

Immediate past president of the Chamber of Commerce, Bobby Rego, did not believe the action had hit stores -- so far.

"I suppose it could have an effect if those who have decided to leave their job or employment won't be getting paid.

"It will reduce their ability financially to purchase locally for a while.'' Mr. Trimingham voiced concern at the impact on visitors.

"The damage is long-term to people's jobs. Tourists see this kind of thing going on and say `We are going to go somewhere else'.

"I think that this sort of industrial action really is in many advanced countries a thing of the past.

"Often sophisticated negotiations take place in order to get to a conclusion and almost always there is a solution after discussions.

"Very rarely do things get to the point where there is a breakdown. I think perhaps we are not so afar ahead as we think we might be.'' The Ministry of Works and Engineering warned last night of disruption to garbage collection.

A Government spokesman said residents in areas with a Thursday collection were advised not to put out trash today.

"Garbage in areas which should have been collected today should be taken in from the roadside so that animals do not have an opportunity to get to it.''