into a labour dispute as nonsense and a complete waste of the taxpayer's money.

Mr. Alan Dunch has taken issue with the Labour Minister's order for an Essential Industries Disputes Board hearing between the cottage colony and the Bermuda Industrial Union.

Although the hearing was triggered by the firing last year of a hotel worker, the Minister said it should also decide whether a collective bargaining agreement exists between Pink Beach and the union.

Mr. Dunch said that issue was settled by the Board in its Grotto Bay-BIU hearing when the "Board made it clear for the industry as a whole that the collective bargaining agreement came to an end on February 24, 1991.

"As far as I'm concerned that decision is final.

"I consider it ludicrous and a complete waste of the taxpayers' money that Government should be asking the Board to consider it as an issue yet again.

In the BIU-Grotto findings last month, the Board said "it is clear'' that the 1988-1991 collective bargaining agreement between the union and hotels was terminated on February 24, 1991 and "never re-instated.'' Last night, Pink Beach manager Mr. W.A. (Toppy) Cowen said the terms of reference by Labour Minister the Hon. Irving Pearman made it tantamount to "being tried twice.

"It's a mockery of the board which he claims is working well,'' he said. Mr.

Pearman would only say he was working through a legislated process. The dispute was referred to the Board after mediation by the Government labour relations officer.

"The only recourse is to refer it to the Board,'' he said.

American professor Ronald Haughton is to chair the hearings.

Mr. Dunch said changing board chairmen was irrelevant to deciding the issues.

"The board is the board is the board,'' he said. "I have asked the Minister to clarify the issue for me and he has yet to do so.'' A date has yet to be set for the hearings.