Midway into a 21-day strike notice filed by Airport Fire Service officers represented by the Bermuda Industrial Union, management continues to refuse to negotiate, The Royal Gazette has learned.

The firefighters - who are categorised as essential services personnel - filed their strike notice on May 30 but yesterday BIU vice-president Chris Furbert claimed management has effectively ignored the notice and refuses to deal with the union.

“Basically what is at issue is the collective agreement,” Mr. Furbert told The Royal Gazette. “Management is saying BIU does not represent half of the staff and therefore it is not prepared to negotiate the agreement with us.”

He said the strike notice will expire on July 1 as weekends and holidays are not included in the legally-defined period.

The airport fire service personnel are managed by Bermuda Aviation Services (BAS)/Serco but Mr. Furbert said the company refuses to recognise an arbitration panel decision last year dictating that it must deal with the BIU with regards to contracts of union members.

The row between management and the fire service personnel based out of Clearwater Fire Station originally flared during the summer of 2000 when the company introduced a new shift system.

A number of firefighters refused to abide by the new schedule and the dispute was referred to a Permanent Arbitration Panel by then-Labour Minister Paula Cox as is dictated under the Labour Relations Act for essential services personnel.

An arbitration panel comprised of Ian Kawaley, Eugene Blakeney and Louis Mowbray split the bargaining agreement between staff and maagement in half last year, Mr. Furbert said.

“Those who don't want to be represented don't have to be,” Mr. Furbert said. “But those that do are represented by BIU.”

He added: “Despite that, management are saying they aren't prepared to negotiate. They are going against the arbitration award and against the law of the land.”

Mr. Furbert said the union is now awaiting a response from the Labour Ministry in the hopes of averting a strike.

“We're hoping to hear something,” he said. “Sister Molly Burgess and I met with the Acting Labour Minister Dennis Lister on Friday evening and he said he'd get back to us early this week on that and a few other matters.”

While only the BIU member firefighters have filed strike notice, The Royal Gazette understands that BAS-Serco is haggling over contracts with non-union staff as well as the air traffic controllers who are represented by the Bermuda Public Services Union (BSPU).

BPSU president Ed Ball Jr. told The Royal Gazette yesterday, the union was in active negotiations on behalf of the air traffic controllers.

“We're still talking,” Mr. Ball said. “They don't have any issues with us, but they're not even talking to the BIU.”