at the Sonesta Beach Hotel, but feelings of anger, distrust and tension continue to simmer just below the surface, a member of the Bermuda Industrial Union's hotel staff last night warned.

"The Sonesta's on edge. We've got some very angry workers and some managers who just do what they please'' the member, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Royal Gazette . "That's no way to run a good hotel.'' Meanwhile, a meeting was held yesterday between Sonesta management and Chris Furbert of the BIU to resolve the suspension of a housekeeper -- who it is understood broke employee guidelines by not calling in sick two hours prior to the commencement of work.

The woman has since been re-instated with full pay and benefits but anger among staff continues to linger over the issue of a Sonesta employee handbook, which workers say breaks the BIU-HEB (Hotel Employers of Bermuda) collective agreement, an agreement that's up for renegotiation this year.

"The Sonesta wants the handbook to supercede the contract they have with the union but our position follows what's written in the contract, which in this instance says an employee must give a `reasonable' amount of notice. I guess the issue is what's reasonable.

Sonesta `in turmoil', workers say "We feel the Sonesta is being unreasonable and also contradicting themselves.

We have people who start work at 8 a.m.; what are they supposed to do, call their supervisors at 6 (a.m.) Their supervisors aren't even out of bed at 6 (a.m.),'' he said.

Meanwhile, resentment continues to linger over the Sonesta's policy of hiring foreign waiters, an issue that has been poisoning staff morale for some time, the worker said.

"The Sonesta's in turmoil,'' he said. "We have a lot of outstanding issues and something's going to give.'' TOURISM TOU