back, union president Mr. Ottiwell Simmons MP vowed yesterday.

He warned a boycott was being considered as a weapon in the battle.

And he said he suspected bakery managers of deliberately provoking a strike for their own ends.

Mr. Lowe, a long-serving driver at the company, was the only worker fired during the BIU strike earlier this summer.

"He is the only person who was discharged as a result of his part in the union's protest over Bermuda Forwarders,'' Mr. Simmons said. "He came out in support and they have had about three different reasons for not taking him back. At one point they said they wanted to take him back on condition he gave up what I consider to be some of his civil rights.

"It's our intention to have this fellow reinstated and paid his back pay.'' The union had tried to hold meetings with bakery managers with no success, said Mr. Simmons. He understood Government labour officials had been unsuccessful too. Staff had also tried in vain to persuade management to change their position.

"The management have not given a very decisive reason for his dismissal,'' said Mr. Simmons. "I think what they're trying to do is cause a problem there.

"It's my information that the Bermuda Bakery has plans built up for a very large building and I believe that they want a disruption among the workers there, something like a strike, and they will close the bakery in the face of the workers.'' The company hoped to get out of paying severance money, he said.

"These are my guesses at the game. I have no very, very substantial information other than putting bits and pieces together.'' He accused management of being anti-union, stopping negotiations with the union and no longer taking dues.

"The union will not take this one laying down. But we're going to give the Government and management every opportunity to be rational about this.

"A boycott has been on the table for consideration, but we would prefer to have comrade Lowe reinstated and to improve our relationship with the bakery.'' A management spokesman was unavailable for comment last night.