The Bermuda Broadcasting Corporation went off air after union staff downed tools over their treatment and were then ordered off the property by the station chairman.

TV channels ZBM TV 9 and ZFB TV 7, plus radio stations Power 95 and FM 89 were all affected by last night's action.

Triggered by news that a long-serving worker had been laid off, the walkout comes after months of turmoil at the company where staff are said to be owed thousands of dollars in unpaid wages.

Around 14 staff from the newsroom plus technical staff walked off the job in protest at 5 p.m.

A few minutes later, board chairman Fernance Perry sent news editor Janelle Ford outside with a message from him stating: "Go home and get off my property."

A blackout descended on the station shortly afterwards, with popular programmes such as the nightly 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. newscasts and drama The Young and the Restless replaced by a blank screen instead.

Staff are due to hold a union meeting at 10 a.m. today, with it looking unlikely that any local news or programme content will be broadcast until the issues are resolved.

One station insider told The Royal Gazette: "Today, a long-serving employee who's been here for 30 years received a letter telling her effective tomorrow she's been laid off for four months, with just one day's notice.

"On Good Friday, the staff stopped work because they had not received thousands of dollars due to them that was supposed to be paid in instalments."

The Easter walkout led to a letter from Mr. Perry being posted on noticeboards at the BBC accusing employees of breaching holiday work policies "to the financial detriment of the company."

It went on to warn: "The company is advising all personnel and those in particular who failed to show up for work when shifted that the company is not in a position to absorb such financial losses, particularly in this economic climate.

"In addition, we note that any further action of a similar nature will not be tolerated. The company reserves the right to take disciplinary action, including and up to dismissal."

After the posting of the notice, news filtered yesterday through that the long-standing receptionist, plus two other staff, face the axe.

The insider who asked to be described simply as a "unionised source" amid fear of repercussions said last night: "Two other people are going to be laid off too, so the Bermuda Industrial Union (affiliated) staff decided to stop work at 5 p.m. Mr. Perry asked a manager to go outside to inform the staff that took part in the action to go home and get off his property. The staff are p****d off. If they can do that to a long-term employee like that they can do it to anyone."

The company has recently been embroiled in a high-profile legal battle with CableVision over the latter company carrying channels seven and nine. This is said by staff to have been costly – although the insider said it did not seem likely that the troubled station would shut down for good.

"I know the company has been in financial straits but Mr. Perry has been working hard to keep the company going. I think the staff recognise that the company is in financial difficulty. They want to work with the management team to resolve the issues, but they want to be treated with respect.

"My understanding was that the company was supposed to talk to the union to map out a plan and have a discussion but the management team never speak to the union."

Another unionised staff member said of the message from Mr. Perry telling them all to go home: "We're disgusted. It's an escalation in what can be described as a circus atmosphere, fuelled by the management style."

Programme director Darlene Ming, one of just a handful of managers left in the building after the walkout, told The Royal Gazette: "I don't know what's going on. I'm as surprised as anyone else."

Arriving at the station around 5.30 p.m, Mr. Perry refused to comment on the issue stating: "I just got here. I'm in no mood to give any report."

The BBC's CEO Bill Craig was told by Mr. Perry to leave his post last month. Mr. Craig subsequently told this newspaper that he departed reluctantly, having hoped to push through improvements to staff conditions and broadcast technology.

Speaking from his home in Toronto, Canada, last night, Mr. Craig said although the latest developments were not unexpected: "I'm surprised in that I think the view of Mr. Perry was they would not take a walkout. I think he's surprised that they did. I think he took the view that the economic situation is so bad and people are so desperate for jobs that you could ride roughshod over them, and in the year 2009 that's not how to deal with them. I gather he's about 87 years old and seems to be from a different time."

Mr. Craig added: "It's so important in a democracy to have multiple voices. I hope the issue is resolved."