understands.

Arbitrator Prof. Ronald Haughton's awards fall closely in line with management pay offers, according to reliable reports.

It is understood he awarded increases of five and two percent for 1991 and 1992.

And it is believed his awards for 1993 and 1994 are three and four percent respectively.

But his ruling on pensions and benefits remains unclear.

In previous rulings Prof. Haughton has kept the lid on wages -- but bumped up pensions significantly, causing alarm among hoteliers.

Lawyers have claimed Prof. Haughton's ruling is not legally enforceable.

The Hotel Employers of Bermuda and the Bermuda Industrial Union have been at loggerheads since their last collective bargaining agreement expired in February, 1991.

The two camps will be meeting separately next week to discuss the long-awaited awards.

HEB president Mr. Dennis Tucker yesterday declined to comment on Prof.

Haughton's ruling.

"We will be reviewing it with our membership early next week. Many of our members are off the Island at present,'' he said.

BIU president Mr. Ottiwell Simmons was said yesterday to be off the Island, and unavailable for comment.

It is believed the union will be staging a general membership meeting on Tuesday to discuss the report.

Last night Labour Minister the Hon. Irving Pearman said he would be releasing the Haughton ruling to the public late on Tuesday, or early on Wednesday.

"I must give the two parties the opportunity to discuss the reports with their memberships.'' He said the report, which runs to more than 30 pages, was "comprehensive'', covering all the outstanding issues.

Mr. Pearman appealed for both sides to accept the awards, and make 1993 a good year for the hotel industry.

"I hope, wish and pray the report will be accepted,'' he said.

Mr. Pearman stressed there were signs of optimism on the hotel front, and a desire for both sides to work together.

He added there were moves in the pipeline to unite the two camps.

These include a private February 10 meeting organised by the Premier the Hon.

Sir John Swan, which will be attended by Cabinet Ministers, and hotel and union top brass.

Prof. Haughton's report will almost certainly colour the meeting.

His ruling followed 35 days of bitter argument between the BIU and the HEB at the Cathedral Hall hearings.

Prof. Haughton and his Essential Industries Disputes Settlement Board pondered more than 4,000 pages of evidence.

Management have been fighting for a complete wages and benefits freeze from January, 1992 to February 24, 1993.

Three percent wage rises were proposed respectively for 1993 and 1994, with the collective agreement expiring on February 25, 1995.

Management considered the issue of 1991 wages closed after implementing most of the Hobgood Award -- including a five percent increase for live-out staff, and two and-a-half percent for live-in workers.

The BIU, however, had been battling for wage increases of seven, six, and seven, for 1991, 1992, and 1993.