certification and decertification of trade unions will be brought before the House of Assembly this session as promised, Minister of Labour and Home Affairs Quinton Edness said yesterday.

But the bill would not be tabled in the House until after MPs return from their Easter break.

"Government has moved swiftly and a draft Bill is nearing completion and will be shared with the various stakeholders shortly,'' Mr. Edness said.

"I renew the commitment to bring the necessary legislation to this House during the current session.'' It was widely expected that amendments to the Trade Union Certification Act, 1965, would be brought to the House yesterday. Those expectations were fuelled by comments made last week by Premier David Saul during the heat of last week's wildcat labour unrest.

On March 5, Dr. Saul indicated the legislation -- the key to a peace pact with protesting Bermuda Industrial Union workers -- "could be tabled within a week Friday''.

But the current House session, Mr. Edness noted, does not end until early July.

BIU executive secretary Wanda Bluefort yesterday told The Royal Gazette the announcement was no shock.

"In actuality, the union is pleased. We don't want the legislation raced through. When you do that the potential to make a mistake is always there,'' she said.