Bermuda Forwarders truck from entering the Hamilton docks.

One BIU member threw himself in front of the big container truck's wheels at one point, while others pulled the door open and threatened to haul the driver out. The driver eventually pulled away.

The ten pickets allowed other trucks to come and go from the docks during the afternoon protest. About 150 union members watched from the opposite side of the road, sheltering from the drizzle under shop verandahs.

Police helped direct traffic and, as the afternoon progressed, stopped west-bound traffic from passing King Street.

About 20 officers with three jeeps assembled in the courtyard of Supreme Court No. 3 around the corner on Court Street, and many union members said they believed group arrests were imminent.

Shortly after 3 p.m., a group of six officers and Deputy Commissioner Mr. Alex Forbes went to the picket line. "Watch the lawmakers break the law,'' someone called out.

Mr. Forbes had a long discussion with BIU president Mr. Ottiwell Simmons MP at the dock entrance but no arrests took place.

"This is sad,'' said Canon James Francis, Human Rights Commission chairman and a frequent member of labour mediation panels, who watched the events unfold.

"Calm has got to prevail. This isn't the first problem that union and management have had, and it doesn't need to extend to this kind of war between Bermudians.

"...In this situation there are no righteous folks or sinners: There are people who are looking for what they consider is their due -- both management and workers. The rights of both sides need to be observed.'' Canon Francis added: "There is the law, and I think the law has spoken. And one has to decide if one's conscience will not allow one to obey the law, then he has to pay the price.'' At about 3:15 the Bermuda Forwarders truck started its engine. Many union members ran across the street to block its path. Mr. Carlton Askia, a 57-year-old bus garage worker, stretched face down on the street in front of the truck's front right wheel.

"Hold the fort,'' construction division organiser Mr. Kenyetta Young called out, while others joined in with slogans of their own. Several men tried to pull open the truck door and haul the driver out onto the sidewalk.

"Get out of that truck!'', "You are a fool'' and assorted profanity was yelled at the driver. Mr. Simmons, who was at the door, said: "He has a weapon in there.'' A Police officer manoeuvred in to the truck door, which was eventually shut and locked. Mr. Simmons and others helped Mr. Askia to his feet and escorted him back across Front Street to applause of union members.

Asked why he did it, Mr. Askia said: "It's not a play thing.'' He said he would have remained lying down if the truck had started moving.

"I don't know what happened there,'' Mr. Simmons said. "No one wants to be killed and no one wants to kill someone but that was the potential.'' Later, a union official went through the crowds saying: "Keep your tensions down. We are here for protest, not for violence.'' The Bermuda Forwarders driver, who asked that his name not be used, said he had no weapon -- just a canvas strap with a big metal buckle that forwarding trucks carry to strap down cargo.

He said he only started the engine to build up the pressure on the hydraulic breaks. He wasn't planning to move anywhere.

He drove off about 30 minutes later, to jeers and whistles from the crowd and pickets. Tension eased, and the pickets and other BIU members left about 4:30 to return to the union hall.

ONE-MAN PROTEST -- Bus garage worker Mr. Carlton Askia lay down in front of a Bermuda Forwarders truck before it was turned away from the dock.

COME RAIN OR SHINE -- Even a torrential downpour failed to dampen pickets' determination yesterday.