appear to be on a collision course over the refusal by hotels to sign their new workers' contract.

BIU leader Mr. Ottiwell Simmons last night said he hoped the HEB would "re-think'' its position.

But hotel leaders remained adamant in refusing to sign an agreement they said would lock them forever in a relationship with the union.

They have urged Labour Minister the Hon. Irving Pearman to change the two-year-old Labour Relations Amendment Act.

"This legislation takes away our right to get out once we commit to the contract,'' HEB executive Mr. John Harvey said last night.

"We think it's completely wrong. We think everyone should have the right to escape.'' Mr. Simmons made his statement shortly after a hotel workers' meeting which also discussed the decision last week by Elbow Beach to quit the HEB.

The union leader's moderate statement said he considered the contract dispute to be between the HEB and Government.

There was no real issue in his eyes: The law clearly stated that the HEB was bound by the new contract mediated by American Professor Ronald Haughton. "We hope the HEB position is temporary and that we'll hopefully have a signing ceremony in the not too distant future,'' Mr. Simmons said.

"We've got no argument with them and they've got no argument with us. I don't want to get in that fight.'' Mr. Harvey said the HEB was determined to change aspects of the law that was "hastily prepared and hastily passed by the House against our criticisms.'' The major criticism is a clause in the Labour Relations law that says an existing contract will remain in force if the two sides "fail to conclude a new agreement''.

"This is one of the concerns we have,'' Mr. Harvey said. "They want us to commit to this relationship for the rest of our existence.'' Another concern is a clause that says that the Disputes Settlement Board will mediate when the two sides fail to agree.

Mr. Harvey said the clause effectively makes the Board a permanent mediator for hotel contracts.

"It is costly and time-consuming measure and it takes away the union's incentive to bargain in good faith,'' he said.

Labour Minister Mr. Pearman has asked the HEB for an "urgent reply'' to his letter on Monday asking for its concerns in writing on the legislation.

Mr. Simmons said he saw no threats to the union in the current situation.

Elbow Beach, he said, was bound to uphold the Haughton Award.

"The fact that Elbow Beach leaves the HEB does not exonerate it from the provisions of the Haughton Award,'' he said.