Union leader Edward Ball has shot down claims he has double standards when it comes to Bermudianisation.

The Bermuda Public Service Union general secretary called for Bermudians to protest if a foreign judge becomes the new Chief Justice.

But on Monday former BPSU member Jennifer Caines said while Mr. Ball spoke out forcibly over the new Chief Justice, he did not support her husband Troy when he was overlooked for the post of deputy Collector of Customs, which went to a guest worker.

Mr. Ball said this was not the case, and the BPSU spent four months working on behalf of Mr. Caines and other Bermudians who had concerns about the transparency of appointments in the Customs service.

Mrs. Caines told The Royal Gazette: “When (Bermuda Industrial Union leader) Derrick Burgess spoke out in support of a Bermudian with experience and a masters degree (Mr. Caines) who was overlooked, he (Mr. Ball) did not offer his support.

“He instead blasted Mr. Burgess for overstepping his bounds when he was simply in support of the BPSU member.

“Yet today he is speaking out strongly against them possibly bringing in a foreigner for Chief Justice.

“This is a perfect example of him trying to sit on both sides of the fence, talking out of both sides of his mouth. Where does he stand on Bermudianisation?”

But Mr. Ball said the union spent a great deal of time on the concerns of Mr. Caines and other Bermudians who were worried about a lack of transparency in the appointment process at Customs.

He said BPSU members were angry because Mr. Caines went to the BIU without checking what the BPSU was doing on his behalf.

And he said he spoke out against Mr. Burgess because he had broken protocol about acting for a member of another union without checking the facts first.

“There are no double standards about Bermudianisation,” said Mr. Ball yesterday.

“If there is a qualified Bermudian, we would address it.

“There was a Customs officer who had a genuine concern and the whole Customs division of the BPSU was looking at it on his behalf, and what incensed the membership was that he did not come to them to find out what was happening on his behalf.

“We've looked at the whole matter and spent a whole lot of time looking at the restructuring.

“The unions don't interfere in one another's business. There is a courtesy call that takes place so that at least the other union is aware of the facts.

“There was anger among our membership in this instance because our membership was taken aback and that puts the unions at different stances.”

Mr. Ball said as a result of the BPSU's action on the Customs promotion, there was now a policy worked out on transparency in promotion which was given to every member.