announced it was backing down on compulsory layoffs.

Leaders of the Bermuda Public Services Association and the Bermuda Industrial Union described the win for the workers as "common sense at last prevailing''.

Yesterday's turn-around meant staff would now be paid for the whole week just passed -- and in future weeks -- despite previous stay-at-home orders.

And the union leaders also praised mediation by trouble-shooter Neville Darrell who Home Affairs Minister Paula Cox sent in just a few days ago.

But they rejected BTC's claim that unions had refused to honour a deal made in January to support the layoffs -- arguing no firm approval was ever given.

BTC's turn-around was revealed in a letter yesterday, a week after the company fired off hundreds of letters to staff warning of the impending cuts.

That followed the Telecommunications Commission decision limiting the permitted line rental hikes and ordering BTC to maintain staffing levels unless first proving cutbacks would not affect service.

In yesterday's letter BTC chief executive officer Lorraine Lyle said the company was "extremely disappointed'' but could not "afford to be distracted'' from making customers the "top priority''.

By "temporarily shaving 10 percent off payroll costs'' the company had intended to offset massive revenue losses caused by a Government directive last month to slash fees charged to overseas carriers, Ms Lyle said.

BTC has claimed the reduced fees will cost it $33,000 a day -- possibly slicing $12 million of its expected annual profit.

"Despite the serious revenue drain BTC is experiencing, the leadership of both the BIU and the BPSA have refused to recognise the agreements made on January 14, 1999.'' She said "effective immediately'' the nine-day fortnight was being withdrawn and the normal five-day week would recommence.

A statement to the press said all employees who were scheduled to have an unpaid day off during the week of February 1 would be paid for that day.

"The Company acted in good faith in our proposals to the Unions and is extremely disappointed with the turn of events,'' it said.

Judge slammed sexual assault, which they were asked to consider instead of the more serious sex charge.

It had been alleged the man had stalked the 50-year-old woman after she broke up with her and then forced her into an abandoned house before raping her.

Neither can be identified for legal reasons.

And Ms Young called on Bermudians to throw their weight behind the Island branch of Amnesty International's bid to mark International Women's Day -- March 8 -- by getting Government to sign up to the UN's Bill of Rights for Women.

The UN document has been signed by 200 nations, which includes most "so-called developed countries'' -- but Bermuda and the US have yet to join up.

Organiser LeYoni Junos said earlier this week it was hoped to get at least 10,000 signatures on petitions seeking the adoption of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

Petitions will be circulated next week and organisers are looking for support from the entire community, including corporate Bermuda, charities and professional organisations.

Anyone who wants to add support to the campaign can contact Ms Junos on 296-3429.

cancelled. The true cricket die-hards are worried. Those going for the atmosphere, the fun and the trip will still go down.'' Lawyer Ed Bailey, West Indies fan and President of the BCBC for 14 years, said: "I'm hardly surprised that one trip has been cancelled.

"I know a lot of people have been discouraged from travelling to the West Indies and that's a direct result of their resentment that the West Indies don't appear to have been trying in games.

"People in Bermuda take their cricket very seriously, just like people in the Caribbean and in South Africa.

"They want to go and watch the West Indies in high spirits. So I think it's natural that the interest has dwindled.'' Mr. Bailey, a former member of the International Cricket Council, made annual trips to West Indies tests in Barbados in an official capacity.

He added: "I knew the players and the officials of the West Indies Board, so I have an affinity with them. I lean towards them.

"I haven't been there for the last two years because of business commitments.

"But I do follow the team and I know they have been guilty of poor performances and embarrassing results. And I would anticipate that even the gates at the matches throughout the Caribbean will be well down.'' The Meyer charter, which cost $755 a head, runs from March 24 to April 1.

alternative methods to compensate for the mounting losses''.

Bermuda Public Services Association general secretary Ed Ball urged the company to continue to build an atmosphere of trust with staff.

He said the withdrawal of the compulsory layoffs began that process but it needed to go further for the sake of the company.

And he dismissed BTC's claim that the unions were refusing to recognise an agreement between the company and unions on January 14, claiming minutes from the meetings proved the nine-day fortnight plan was only ever tentative.

Bermuda Industrial Union president Derrick Burgess agreed and he said BTC's agreement yesterday to pay workers for enforced days-off during the week was "really an admission they never had concrete approval from the unions.'' And he blasted BTC's lack of cooperation in providing information on future plans which would enable the union to retrain workers who could eventually be unseated from their jobs by technology.

"You must have a vision in business and telecommunications is changing.'' BUSINESS BUC