union had not bothered to officially approach Ministers about their grievances.

And Bermuda Public Services Association insiders claimed last night that only 20 out of more than 140 members attended last week's meeting to vote for today's action.

The insider said union militants were determined to block management at every step and they had applied for permission for the march while at the same time negotiating with Customs management last week.

Acting Finance Minister Alex Scott will take the petition about poor working conditions at the airport from BPSA members at the Government Administration building today.

He said: "We have a pragmatic approach and this can be resolved very quickly, but it can't be resolved by marching.'' Mr. Scott said he could understand if the union had resorted to action if they had been frustrated by a Government who was not prepared to listen. But he pointed out that the Government had not been given a chance.

He said: "I sat down for one and a half hours with Judith Hall-Bean from the Government's Personnel Services and Customs head Bill LeDrew and people from the Finance Department. At the conclusion of the meeting we sought out (BPSA general secretary) Ed Ball to have a meeting.

"I understand Mr. Ball took it back to the membership and the membership insisted on the march. There is no need for it unless it is just for public display. We are going to meet straight after the march anyway.

"Today I will be the first Minister to have been officially approached by the union and they have not gone through the grievance procedure and they have not asked Bill LeDrew to put the matter to the Minister.'' One experienced Customs man told The Royal Gazette that the department was split between radicals keen on confrontation and those prepared to work with management to sort out problems.

He said: "The management were negotiating in good faith, but they (the radicals) were applying to march. There are a group of militants determined to embarrass the department.'' No need for march Mr. Scott said Government was looking at solutions to overcrowding in the freight room where Customs officers share space with courier services.

He said: "We are looking at moving facilities which don't need to be central out to Southside.

"The courier services could be moved to Southside. I canvassed that suggestion and was told it could work.'' He also said the mail sorting facilities, which are just across the tarmac from the courier service, could be moved to Southside to create more space.

Mr. Ball denied today's action would see Customs operations grind to a halt with all 146 staff joining the action.

He said: "There will be a skeleton staff on. The business of the country still has to go ahead.'' Customs workers will meet at Number Eight shed, on Front Street, at 9 a.m. and march along Front Street and up Parliament Street to be met by Mr. Scott.

Last week BPSA officials met with management for frank talks over unrest at the airport which last month saw all ten staff at the courier facility take part in a two-day sick-out to protest against cramped conditions after the department moved into the freight shed.

However, both the union and management had claimed at the time to have been baffled at what had caused the action.

Mr. Ball added yesterday: "Talks have not broken down between the management and the union. It's just that people have been off the Island.'' Acting Finance Minister Alex Scott CUSTOMS CUS