Civil Servants are under the cosh from bullying ministers who are putting politics above protocol says Bermuda Public Services Union leader Ed Ball.

He said morale in the public sector was plummeting amid rampant fear and a "malaise of mistrust."

Mr. Ball told The Royal Gazette: "The union has definitely received increasing complaints about political interference, bullying and person's employment contracts being cancelled."

He said the union had taken on at least five complaints in the last six months.

"They are increasing. What's concerning is the civil service is supposed to be apolitical and free of political interference. They serve the Government of the day and when we see allegations we have to take them seriously.

"It means persons might be asked to go against directives on how the day-to-day operations of their department are to be carried out."

And Mr. Ball said there were increasing complaints about morale.

"It's a bit disturbing as you have to try to discern a reasonable instruction versus one that is totally off-the-wall.

"You have to decipher the minister's relationship with the civil servant and at times go outside the box and look at historical relationships to see if indeed the complaint is factual but at the same time address this increasing malaise of mistrust and fear that is running rampant."

Asked if people were quitting Mr. Ball said: "We are trying to encourage people to stand and fight.

"If it is happening to one person, even if it is a perception, then there are others who are going to see it and it's going to affect productivity.

"It doesn't solve the problem, it just pushes the problem somewhere else.

"I am sure there is no one who sits in Cabinet who wishes to be perceived as not acting in good order and following the rule of law."

Mr. Ball said he was glad the head of the Civil Service Ken Dill was actively pursuing all matters brought to his attention because "it is always in the interests of all concerned to ensure the public gets outstanding delivery of service".

Mr. Dill was off the island yesterday. Acting Civil Service head Robert Horton said: "I am sure any expressions of concern which have been brought to the attention of the Head of the Civil Service are being addressed in the appropriate manner."

Mr. Ball declined to say which particular ministries or departments were most at fault but he said complaints were coming from various levels of the hierarchy.

"There is a perception out there that senior civil servants take too long to have things affected.

"The BPSU has always been on record of encouraging and promoting efficiency and there are ways and means to deal with it. But to have a civil servant get around procedures for the sake of political expediency?"

Those same civil servants could then be compromised and held liable for being signatories to breaking the rules, said Mr. Ball.

"So they have to always protect their welfare and integrity as technical officers, that's their role."

Asked why he thought the bullying was happening Mr. Ball said: "The PLP has platform mandates they wish to deliver and they want a civil service which is able to deliver.

"However we all have to realise that you can't build a house in one day.

"You have to make sure any policy has no liability factors against the Government and that there's research on international standards and there is a whole list of checks and balances."

He said those checks and balances also protected the minister by giving them current and meaningful data.

Mr. Ball added: "We are so glad there is now a dignity at work policy to deal with the political interference and bullying that's taking place."