strike at the Elbow Beach Hotel.

Union President Mr. Ottiwell Simmons says the strike will go ahead as soon as the hotel's occupancy level reaches 70 percent.

Managing Director of the Elbow Beach Development Company Mr. John Jefferis called the action "bully boy tactics.'' And Minister of Home Affairs the Hon. Irving Pearman admitted disappointment at the BIU decision especially after he had recommended that the dispute be tested before a Government disputes board.

The strike has been called as a result of the Elbow Beach's attempts to break ties with the BIU.

Mr. Jefferis confirmed last night that his hotel would continue with their policy of "not having a relationship with the BIU.'' The hotel has refused to operate the cheque-off system where union dues are taken directly from hotel employees' wages. Last week the BIU learned that the hotel had not deducted the dues which would cost $8,342 per month.

Following a meeting with some of the 300 members at the Elbow Beach, Mr.

Simmons made a statement to The Royal Gazette .

He said: "The Bermuda Industrial Union have exhausted all reasonable steps to avert an industrial dispute with the Wyndam Elbow Beach Hotel.

"At a meeting of unionised staff it was decided to conduct a three day token strike during the first opportunity when the occupancy exceeds 70 percent at the hotel.'' The 70 percent figure is believed to be directly related to a recent decision by the hotel that there would no longer be guarantees of 100 percent staffing if 70 percent occupancy is achieved.

Mr. Simmons said: "This decision is taken as a very last resort. In order to avoid any confrontation at the hotel the union has approached the management, the Minister of Labour and the Minister of Tourism urging that the hotel reinstate the collective bargaining agreement. That would include cheque off and credit union deductions.'' But Mr. Simmons said that union efforts had fallen on stony ground and the hotel has refused to budge.

He said that Elbow Beach were breaking the law in actions against the union and therefore union members should be protected by the law if they take action to defend the agreement.

Mr. Simmons said: "Members have asked me to make it clear to the public that the union speaks for members and not the management.'' He said that management had given the impression that Elbow Beach workers did not want to be members of the union.

He said: "The hotel could be running at 70 percent occupancy soon so this action could take place any day now.'' On hearing the news Mr. Jefferis said: "I think it's disappointing and counter-productive. There is certainly not going to be a great advantage to the staff if this happens. These are bully boy tactics.'' Mr. Jefferis said that the hotel is not close to 70 percent occupancy and believes it could be some time before it is.

The Minister, Mr. Pearman said: "I am disappointed to hear this but I have been disappointed with Elbow Beach, which has had reasonably good labour relations before, having to go to this.

"It is still not clear what has caused this. That matter would have been uncovered by the Government disputes board.

"I have received a petition from the workers at Elbow Beach that they want union recognition. There are a lot of names.

"This is not a good time for this to happen when the whole country is trying to turn the tourism problems around.''