The “cessation of hostilities” between Government and the Bermuda Industrial Union should be welcomed, given that any disruption on the labour front is bad news.

And given that there should be trust between Government and labour and employers alike, it is important that the lines of communication between the unions and Government are open. To that end, the quarterly meetings which Premier Jennifer Smith said had been offered before Friday’s BIU march should be valuable.

Nonetheless, one has to wonder if the other shoe will drop. Employers may well worry if the reminder from one union member to the Government (“we put you there”) will result in the labour relations playing field being tilted toward labour.

This has not been the case so far under the Progressive Labour Party, and it is important that all sides continue to be treated fairly. Nonetheless, it would be understandable if the concern now exists.

There is no question that the workers who marched on Friday were angry and frustrated. The emotions displayed were real. But one has to wonder with the benefit of hindsight just how serious some of the issues were.

Workers from two of the companies directly concerned, Stevedoring Services and Bermuda CableVision, did not march at all, at least officially. While the stevedores are barred from withdrawing the labour without giving 21 days notice and were right not to breach the law, they have traditionally been among the first to flex their muscles in the past when they have felt wronged. According to the company, CableVision workers did not march either in spite of a long period of unrest. The management of the company has stated that there are no outstanding disputes and have gone to great lengths to respond to workers’ criticisms.

Along with BIU president Derrick Burgess’ protestations of ignorance last week about the whole march, the whole episode has the feel of play-acting and a growing sense that the real aim of this exercise was to remind the community that the BIU remains a force to be reckoned with.

To some extent, the BIU got what it wanted. But if that is all it was, then they made the community pay a heavy price and should beware of playing that card too many times.

The image that will stick in people’s minds from the march is that of Premier Jennifer Smith being loudly harangued in front of the House of Assembly and her own claims not to be aware of worker discontent. The latter claim is an excuse that cannot be played too often either, since it suggests that she is out of touch — and that is a label that is electoral poison for any national leader.