Bermuda Public Services Union leader Ed Ball has warned both political parties his members will not be trampled on.

It comes after frustration when a negotiated pay deal and union recognition agreement was not ratified for overseas tourism staff by the Progressive Labour Party Government amid staff fears that privatization was on the agenda.

And there is concern that the Opposition has pledged to trim the civil service.

On page 39 of the United Bermuda Party's manifesto there's a pledge to "reduce the size of the civil service through attrition".

Mr. Ball told The Royal Gazette: "The BPSU has fought hard and long to protect the rights and gains for workers.

"We will not stand by and let any of the parties erode those gains whether it comes to the alleged privatisation of an overseas tourism office under the PLP or cuts to the civil service under the UBP. It is fundamental to any trade union that its members rights are protected.

"If needs be we will utilise the labour department, the Minister or the complaints section of the International Labour Organisation (ILO)."

And Mr. Ball added: "We continue to hear that businesses are being canvassed or are being asked to join the working group on educational reform while other tripartite partners such as labour have not received an invite and this goes contrary to the ILO ethos."

Last night the PLP voiced concern civil service jobs were under threat but the UBP said it was not planning to fire anyone.

An Opposition spokesman said: "Before adding any further civil service jobs, the United Bermuda Party will make a clear assessment to make sure they are needed. That's the difference. The United Bermuda Party is prudent with the people's money while the PLP has a track record of reckless overspending."

Earlier this week UBP leader Michael Dunkley said in the last decade 1,000 new jobs had been added to the civil service which equated to about $70 million a year which could be better spent on schools.