newspaper, The Workers' Voice.

For union bosses have used the front page in the latest edition to slam an article inside the newspaper by columnist Larry Burchall.

Mr. Burchall attacked the BIU for using a non-union firm to build its new gas station.

And he compared the move to the USA's National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People hiring the right-wing racist Ku Klux Klan as security men for the organisation's national convention because the KKK bid was cheapest.

He wrote: "In my view the principle which has been violated is -- or should have been -- absolutely inviolable.

And he added: "Building the Bermuda Industrial Union gas station with non-union labour is completely, absolutely, unforgivably wrong.'' But the statement by BIU vice-president Chris Furbert and general secretary Molly Burgess said the comparison made was offensive.

It added: "For those members who have fought the good fight for workers' rights, such an analogy annoys and angers, and with good reason.'' The statement said that the KKK analogy Mr. Burchall used was especially inappropriate considering that the BIU would be celebrating the 32nd anniversary of the "landmark battle'' to unionise Belco.

Mr. Furbert and Ms Burgess pointed out that several BIU members were arrested and sent to prison as a result of their fight to defend the workers' right to organise.

The statement added: "The BIU has since fought many more battles for workers' rights including the confrontation with Bermuda Forwarders over the sacking of 15 workers.'' That dispute resulted in Supreme Court issuing a sequestration order allowing Government to seize union assets.

The statement said: "The BIU's record as a champion of workers' rights cannot be faulted. But this union is as strong or as weak as its membership.'' And the BIU statement pointed out that the Dundonald Street contract was being "funded, arranged and managed'' by Esso Bermuda Ltd.

It added that the union had urged Esso to select a union firm, but no unionised company put in a bid.

"The BIU then insisted that the firm be asked to employ as many union members as possible and Esso and the construction firm are complying,'' the statement said.

The statement explained that Esso said that non-union firms would have to be used or the project would be abandoned.

And the union chiefs said that the gas station would then have been in a "worsening position'' because of the number of Esso stations which had upgraded and added money-spinning convenience stores.

The statement added that abandoning the idea was not an option and that upgrading the station would protect members' current investment in the gas station.

The statement insisted: "The BIU is making every effort to organise the firm which has the contract. However, the union can move no faster than the workers permit.'' Mr. Burchall could not be reached for comment last night.