@$:[AT]bylinerg:By Amanda Dale[AT]bodyindent:In a momentous day in the history of labour relations in Bermuda, Police officers yesterday joined thousands of workers in a march on Government.Union leaders claimed up to 5,000 people demonstrated, in a protest which brought Hamilton to a standstill and which sent the message they would not back down over pay.For the first time, officers from the Bermuda Police Association walked on Parliament in silent protest over Government's call for a judicial review of their binding Arbitration Award.Police officers are not allowed to strike or picket, but nearly half of the Bermuda Police Service up to 200 uniformed officers, came out in rank and file to make their presence felt.Detective Constable Carl Neblett, BPA chairman, said Police wanted to show their presence to Ministers and MPs in the House of Assembly."This is to indicate a clear sign of complete disgust at Government's decision to go against an Arbitration Award which is supposed to be binding for both parties," he said. "It is the first time in the history of the organisation we have done this (demonstrate)."Explaining that the officers present were off-duty and office staff, Det. Const. Neblett said yesterday: "This is a peaceful and legal action which will in no way jeopardise public safety. At the end of the day this is our Constitutional right."Police officers sacrifice themselves every single day, we get spat at and insulted, and for Government to be treating us like this is unnecessary."Government's recalcitrant attitude towards us has always been somewhat weary during the negotiation process, and to come to this level after the Arbitration Award has been offered, we should not be here in this position. This goes to show the general attitude of Government to the Police either take it or leave it."Police Commissioner George Jackson watched the demonstration from Reid Street.When The Royal Gazette asked him for comment, he said: "It's their democratic right that they are expressing."As officers gathered outside Hamilton Police Station, more than 100 Works and Engineering staff from the Bermuda Industrial Union assembled at the top of Parliament Street in a show of solidarity. The Bermuda Public Services Union whose Arbitration Award has also been called into question, with Government asking a Tribunal to "reconsider" it, were also present in force.They were joined by their sister unions in the Bermuda Trade Union Congress, who include the Bermuda Union of Teachers, Association of School Principals, the Bermuda Prison Officers Association, Bermuda Federation of Musicians and Variety Artists, and the Electrical Supply Trade Union. To the sound of the beat of drummers from the BIU and cheering workers, union members converged in their thousands along Reid Street, Parliament Street and Court Street to march up the hill to the House of Assembly.Many sat down on the grassy slopes while others lined the building, in a symbolic gesture of the people taking over the House whose MPs are supposed to represent them.It was clearly an extraordinary sight, particularly to the passing tourists and their cameras.As Labour Minister Senator David Burch emerged to address the union leaders, he was greeted with a list of grievances as each representative expressed the discontent of their workers.BPSU general secretary Ed Ball Jr said: "We would urge you to convene a meeting of the Labour Advisory Council (LAC) at your earliest convenience, so that we can discuss a way forward with respect to the matter of arbitration, and to safeguard this economy which we all love. We are here today as Bermudians."Det. Const. Neblett told the Minister: "This is totally unacceptable to us. Our officers are completely distraught by this action, considering the Arbitration Award is a binding agreement between both parties. "As a sign of solidarity Police officers have come here today to ensure that the Government will tend to this expeditiously."Inspector Darrin Simons, lead BPA negotiator, added: "There is clearly a growing discontent across the entire landscape of labour relations in Bermuda."He described the morning's events as "unprecedented" in the nation's history, and told Senator Burch: "At the very least please take note of what Government did or didn't do to precipitate this event".Anthony Wolffe, TUC president, then said: "Mr. Minister, either intentionally or unintentionally, the recent action by Government is tantamount to union busting."When you send our unions to face arbitration it's costing us a great deal of money in legal fees, and when you bring the matters of judicial review into focus, the costs are enough to break any union. And if you break the unions financially, we are not going to stand for that."Craig Clarke, chairman of the Prison Officers Association, said: "When I look around here today, I see the people. All we are asking for is a bit of respect for the workers."Keisha Douglas, BUT president, said her 800-plus members were also out in a show of support for the staff of Whitney Institute, which is facing closure.She added: "We are here today in solidarity with our union colleagues. We also have our own concerns, as we are also in arbitration and that has fallen short, so we don't know what will happen."Senator Burch then spoke to the unions. The Minister said: "I have heard the messages delivered to me this morning and I will take them away. I have some ideas about how we can do things differently."But you should draw some comfort from the fact that I do not do things recklessly or lightly."I have heard what you've had to say this morning, I have got the letters, and I have some ideas about how we can do things differently in this country with labour relations."I also know I have to work hard if I'm going to have to prevent you from coming in and marching hard."I will give you my undertaking that I will do that. I will go back to my colleagues in Government and come up with some ideas."He said: "We are a labour Government and I do not feel for one minute that we have lost our way. If it's up to me, you will never have to march again to get our attention, because I will resolve this."Commenting on the morning's demonstration, Senator Burch told IThe Royal Gazette$: "People have expressed their democratic right, but I'd prefer they didn't do it by marching."We will try to resolve that and I will see about what we can do."