Unions have attacked Government for putting politics before people and scrapping a delegation to the ILO conference in Switzerland.

Industrial leaders claim the United Bermuda Party put a block on the delegation because new Labour Minister Maxwell Burgess would have had to attend -- leaving the party short-handed in Parliament.

And the head of the Bermuda Public Services Association said Bermuda may even have been embarrassed in front of the International Labour Organisation.

The Trade Union Amendment Act, passed by MPs and Senators three months ago, is still waiting for the Governor's signature.

The law gives union rights to every worker in Bermuda and was passed through Senate on March 23.

But union leaders claim two key clauses may be in contravention of ILO conventions.

They said the amendments did not go far enough, with no automatic recognition rights for middle-managers and a clause which allows non-union members to vote on decertification.

Now BPSA General Secretary Edward Ball says the public needs to know why the Act has not been written into law -- and why the delegation was scrapped.

He said: "The potential for embarrassment is there with respect to freedom of association and the right to organise.

"Bermuda has always bragged that it has some of the best labour legislation.

This is a politics issue now but the people's business should always be seen to be put first.

"We do note that the House of Assembly was closed at the request of the Premier, when she went away to receive her degree.'' He also said it was "vital'' for Bermuda to be represented at the conference because Island trade-unionists sat on sub-committees of the British delegation, pushing through guidelines on job creation and contract law.

Mr. Burgess, senior civil servants and representatives from unions and the Employers' Council would have travelled to Geneva.

But Opposition MP and Bermuda Industrial Union President Derrick Burgess said Government blocked the delegation to protect its Parliamentary majority of one.

He added: "I do not see why this should have been an issue. As I understand it, the Minister would not have had to stay for the entire conference.'' He said the Island's unions were still hoping for a meeting with Governor Thorold Masefield about the unsigned law.

And Government House is checking which ILO conventions have been recognised by the UK before the Governor signs.

Opposition Senate Leader Milton Scott, general secretary of the Bermuda Union of Teachers, was due to attend the conference, scheduled to end next week.

"But the Minister pulled the plug so we didn't go,'' he said. "The UBP is at 50-50 in the House at the moment so if he was away, Government felt they couldn't do any business.

"I understand it but it's unfortunate. This was one of the most important conventions of this decade'' Malcolm Dixon, of the Employers' Council, added: "Why the Act hasn't been signed, I just don't know. We are working within the old framework until it is.'' Deputy Governor Peter Willis said: "There is no connection between the Act not being signed and the delegation being scrapped.

"The law is up with the Governor for signature and it simply has not been signed yet.'' Maxwell Burgess was not in Bermuda and unavailable for comment last night.

But Finance Minister Dr. Grant Gibbons said: "Government House may be checking to make sure that everything is in keeping with Britain's international obligations.

"Labour issues are very important but Mr. Burgess, as a Cabinet Minister, had to judge his priorities.

"The House is open and sitting and there are some very important issues in Bermuda, which is why he decided not to send the delegation.'' UNIONS UNS GOVERNMENT GVT