complaints of lay-offs and promotions of supervisors.

The Bermuda Industrial Union complained that the problems began in 1988, when American Mr. Sam Arbuthnot was appointed general manager; since then, the union said last year, 56 employees had been fired, laid off or forced to quit.

The company maintained there were no such problems and pointed to an absence of grievances filed under terms of the collective bargaining agreement.

In his report, arbitrator Prof. Ronald Haughton agreed that industrial relations at Bermuda Forwarders "have not been good''.

If there was any one cause, he said, it was "lack of effective day-to-day communications between the parties and the absence of the spirit of joint problem solving which is basic to good labour relations''.

Events leading to last night's meeting unfolded as follows.

September 6: Shop steward Mr. Lynn Darrell is fired. Bermuda Forwarders says he was excused to go to his doctor but did not go. It also cites nine disciplinary notices over the previous year and a half.

September 26: Bermuda Forwarders discovers 30 tyres on company vehicles punctured; Unionised workers strike over firing of Mr. Darrell.

The Labour Relations Officer convenes a meeting and an understanding is reached: The workers will go back to work, an inquiry will be held into their grievances and the company will be bound by the results, and a separate hearing will look into Mr. Darrell's dismissal.

September 27: Workers return to the job. Bermuda Forwarders agrees to expedited binding arbitration on Mr. Darrell's dismissal.

October 1: Unionised workers resume their strike, citing a September 28 newspaper interview by Bermuda Forwarders president Mr. Toby Kempe saying the dispute was over.

October 14: The company notifies 15 workers that by walking out they had resigned their positions.

November 5: The Labour Minister announces a board of inquiry, even though Bermuda Forwarders says it will not be bound by the outcome.

November 18: Hearings begin before Prof. Haughton and continue for eight days.

Bermuda Forwarders pulls out after the first week.

December 30: The board of inquiry supports the firing of Mr. Darrell and says the other workers should end their strike. It recommends the company take these workers back.

January 7: The BIU accepts the recommendations.

January 10: The company says it will not abide by the recommendations.

February 11: The union stages protest march.

June 1: The BIU sends a letter to the Labour Relations Officer giving 21 day notice of industrial action, saying its Air Services and Port workers Divisions would refuse to handle Bermuda Forwardres cargo.

The Labour Ministry replied that it would not accept the 21 day notice "in essential services where no dispute exists or has been reported''. The Ministry also said secondary industrial action is illegal.

June 18: The Labour Minister and BIU President meet. The Minister urges Mr.

Simmons to consider "the national interest''.

June 19: The BIU calls general meeting of its "transport divisions'' for Monday.