Bermuda Industrial Union president Derrick Burgess has blasted Precision Construction for ignoring binding arbitration which required them to reinstate three sacked workers.

He claimed that despite the Trade Disputes Tribunal ruling earlier this month, the men were still jobless -- four months after being sacked from the ACE building site.

Mr. Burgess said: "These workers need to be working, especially at this time of the year. Christmas is a time when you need money for the family.'' However, Mr. Burgess refused to say whether his union would consider a repeat of the industrial action which hit several industries after the dispute escalated in the summer.

He said:"I can't say at this point. I would have thought the Minister would take the appropriate action.'' Under the Act those flouting the decision of the independent tribunal chairman may be forced to pay fines to the other side as well as the Government.

The behaviour of the company appears to contradict a statement, made after the tribunal's decision, by Precision Construction vice president Clarence James.

Dr. James said: "We will not do anything adverse to the ruling.'' Mr. Burgess said he would be pushing the tribunal to pay compensation to the three workers to cover all their lost earnings.

Mr. Burgess said: "The company is certainly not living up to their words in the paper.'' Yesterday the company was staying tight-lipped. Precision Construction co-owner David Dunkley said: "The company is closed for Christmas and I'm not feeling too good. Ring the lawyer.'' When asked whether the lawyer would be willing to speak to the Press, Mr.

Dunkley said: "Why shouldn't he talk to you? However lawyer David Alderson, of Conyers, Dill and Pearman, failed to return The Royal Gazette's call.

Mr. Burgess said he had suffered the same response.

He said: "They have refused to talk to us. When I called on Tuesday they told me to talk to their lawyer. When I called he said `I don't have to talk to you'.