deteriorating worker-management relations got underway yesterday.9 The three-day conference, put on by the Labour Ministry with the help of Michigan State University School of Labour and Industrial Relations, took place against a backdrop of unease over a planned hotel strike.

Some 50 top officials from labour, management and Government were brought together for the three-day brainstorming session at the Princess Hotel. In opening the conference, Labour Minister the Hon. J. Irving Pearman said it was "very timely'' and a "unique and historical initiative''.

The country's future was in the hands of all in attendance, he said. Bermuda could either return to prosperity or see "accelerated stagnation and decline''.

Mr. Pearman said there had been a "dramatic increase'' in the number of disputes his Ministry has had to deal with over the last year alone.

Before the media was sent out of the conference room, "to facilitate candid and full dialogue'', participants fired off a list of ways they felt would better industrial relations.

Bermuda Industrial Union leader Mr. Ottiwell Simmons MP called for management "to stop busting-up the unions''. While Essential Industries Board member Canon James Francis said he would like to see better training of all labour and management negotiators so there could be a "mature approach to settling disputes''.

Other suggestions included more trust between labour and management, more understanding and less confrontation, an overall commitment to quality service, honest dialogue during negotiations and parties being more receptive to change.

The list prompted Michigan State University professor Betty Barrett to comment participants had set a "tremendous agenda'' for themselves.

Mr. Pearman also said in his opening remarks that there had been "a breakdown'' in the collective bargaining process.

"There has been a failure to make adequate use of the grievance procedure in collective agreements; a seeming inability to conclude voluntary collective agreements; and an increase in the number of disputes which have required reference to mediation, arbitration and boards of inquiry,'' he said.

"This has been a cause of growing concern for both the Ministry, the Labour Advisory Council and, most importantly, the general public who are demanding stability in our key industry.'' Mr. Pearman conceded the deterioration in labour relations had been aggravated by a worldwide and local downturn in the economy.

But, he said: "Often acrimonious negotiations in essential areas of the economy (and labour and management's) failure to communicate effectively has pointed to the need to get together for a period of reflection and serious examination of industrial relations.'' Mr. Pearman pointed out that after an internal session to discuss the state of labour relations, he had concluded: "If ever there was a time when ideas and initiatives were urgently needed to deal with the structure of labour laws and the full implications for doing business and conducting effective labour-management relations, that time is now.'' The Minister stressed recent amendments to the 1975 Labour Relations Act creating the Essential Industries Board and Trade Disputes Board were never intended to replace voluntary collective bargaining.

However, he said, it had become clear there was a need for provisions to deal with any negative industrial action in the hotel industry, a primary industry which impacts upon all of Bermuda.

Mr. Pearman said Government could pass more legislation placing further constraints on worker and management action, but it would only end up with "a mix-match of legislation that would not solve the problems''.

The amended labour laws were unable to halt a planned strike at the Elbow Beach Hotel, set to take place as occupancy hits 70 percent. As a result, Mr.

Pearman said he was considering repealing them.

Mr. Pearman said the media would be invited back at the end of the conference to hear summations.