to attend a union meeting committed a dangerous act, the Department of Marine and Ports has complained.

Docks managers rushed to secure the 240-foot Bermuda Islander when workers walked off the job to meet about an overtime dispute with their employer, Stevedoring Services Ltd.

In a strongly worded letter to the company, Marine & Ports warned the incident would be reported to the authority which grants the licence to operate the docks.

Monday's dispute also saw the company urge workers yesterday not to participate in any more "threatening behaviour towards'' its customers.

"We appeal to you to consider the needs of the Island and your future job security...'' managing director Mr. Michael Lohan said in a staff memorandum.

He added that all economic signs for the next few months indicate conditions will be extremely hard for the shipping industry. "This Island's business community is very dependent upon timely and regular service for the Hamilton docks. Disruptive action is not helpful,'' he warned.

The dispute flared early Monday after a stand-off between management and workers over weekend overtime hours to be worked. The walk-off delayed food deliveries to Island's stores.

Bermuda Industrial Union leader Mr. Ottiwell Simmons MP downplayed the incident saying there was no real dispute, just problems with ship agents who changed their minds over work hours.

But in his memorandum yesterday, Mr. Lohan indicated the dispute stemmed from union demands for more overtime weekend work than agents wanted.

The union, he said, had demanded at least eight hours on the container ship Oleander .

"The ship's agents had wished not to work overtime to allow them to reduce avoidable costs in this period of economic hardship,'' he told workers.

"The ship's agent did compromise and offered to work four hours overtime on Sunday... but your union officials refused this compromise.'' Mr. Lohan was particularly critical of Mr. Chris Furbert, president of the BIU's dockworkers.

"At 8.23 a.m. on Monday... Mr. Furbert, with no prior warning, initiated a work stoppage on the Hamilton docks by ordering all unionised staff to cease work and to attend an unsanctioned meeting at the staff hall on Hamilton docks.

"Pay will be deducted for the 45-minute duration of this meeting.'' Mr. Lohan said Mr. Furbert's actions "endangered the safety'' of the Bermuda Islander which was being tied up at the time.

Last night, Marine & Ports director Mr. Ron Ross described the action as unsafe and "totally out of line.''