docks in a row over overtime.

They rejected pleas for them to work this weekend -- plunging food deliveries around the Island into chaos.

Management accused workers of trying to dictate "work patterns'' by slapping on an overtime ban.

But the Bermuda Industrial Union claim the employees got fed up with management indecision over working hours.

"The workers were being mucked about,'' said BIU president Mr. Ottiwell Simmons MP, yesterday. "I can assure you, however, there is no overtime ban.

There is no striking.'' Two ships were affected by the row -- the Oleander and the Somers Isles .

Both came into the docks from the United States on Sunday as normal for off-loading.

Because of the workers' action offloading was delayed until the following day.

Mr. Bill Brewer, president of Container Ship Management, managers of the Oleander said the entire docks labour force took part in the stoppage.

It meant delays in offloading containers of refrigerated goods for supermarkets and hotels, he said.

Goods included poultry, fruit, vegetables and "anything else you see in the frozen section of a supermarket''.

"Our customers were affected, which is very unfortunate,'' said Mr. Brewer, adding the Oleander usually departed for the US at noon on Tuesday, but instead left at 3 p.m.

"I don't know what will happen next weekend. Hopefully everthing will be back to normal.'' Mr. Brewer said he was unable to throw any light on the dispute.

"The men were operating under a directive from the union. The union should give any explanation.'' The Somers Isles sailed on Monday afternoon shortly after being offloaded.

Mr. Stephen Paynter, traffic manager for Somers Isles Shipping Ltd, said the dispute had caused some disruption. "It put pressure on shipping schedules,'' he added.

Mr. Michael Lohan, managing director of Stevedoring Services, which employs the dockworkers, said he was puzzled by the overtime ban.

He said he could not understand why the BIU would impose a ban which cost workers pay, and caused disruption.

It was peculiar for workers to try to dictate work patterns, he added.

Mr. Simmons blamed the dispute on the shipping agents chopping and changing their minds over working hours.

He said employees were willing to work between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Sunday.

But the agents disagreed because "of a query concerning the weather conditions''.

"Later on the agents changed their mind and asked the workers to work from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. The men, however, had made other plans and it was not convenient for them to work those hours. That is what it was all about. There is no question of a dispute.''