Derrick Burgess yesterday told The Royal Gazette .

Anger is simmering among BIU rank and file over a variety of issues, he said, such as Government stalling on promised labour-reform legislation and the recent licence suspension of long-time fishermen Leslie Pitcher and Stanley Jack.

But the final straw was the use of scab labour to collect garbage last weekend in Paget and Warwick Parishes.

"The workers have said they will not tolerate anymore scab labour. They're annoyed and they're angry,'' said Mr. Burgess.

But Mr. Burgess refused to say what would happen if Government decided to test the union's resolve -- which was emboldened at a BIU meeting on Thursday night.

"Government needs to read in the papers and hear on the radio that the workers will not tolerate any more (scab labour).'' Outside crews from Talbot Enterprises were called in last weekend after Works and Engineering crews could not make their collections during regular work hours. The crews, members of the BIU, have been conducting a two-week work-to-rule campaign to pressure Government into settling their 1997 wage schedule.

Union officials representing workers from Works and Engineering, Marine and Ports, Agriculture and Fisheries, and the Ministry of Health gathered at BIU headquarters on Thursday night to decide whether or not they would expand the action.

One union member earlier told The Royal Gazette BIU officials were thinking about widening the overtime ban to include more Government departments, though Mr. Burgess yesterday remained tight-lipped over what the union's next move might be.

Derrick Burgess