management at troubled BTC are trying to keep under wraps a report into management/labour relations.

The Royal Gazette has been told that morale at the company has hit rock bottom following rumours that a probe by an independant board of inquiry into management practices is being hushed up.

A BTC manager contacted the newspaper saying that the firm was once again in turmoil. The anonymous caller claimed that a report on management practices by a board of inquiry was being withheld by executives of the company because it portrayed management in a negative light.

The concerned insider said: "BTC is in turmoil. The entire staff are still awaiting the results of this inquiry which is now two weeks overdue.

"Staff are in despair and there is distress at all levels over staff cuts.

Once again it centres on the management style of the foreign executive management. There was much optimism when the the US consultancy group left Bermuda and people were told everyone would be approached on the decision making process. That has not happened.'' The caller claimed that many staff members felt they would be pushed into other departments or demoted. Some even feared fresh job cuts.

But now Mr. Burgess has confirmed that the report had still not been completed.

And he assured workers that, once he had received a copy of it, it would be passed on to both management and labour representatives.

"I haven't had sight of it yet because it hasn't been completed,'' the Minister said. "I can't say when it will be ready but I do know that the board of inquiry is being encouraged to get it completed.

"But I can assure the labour force that, once it is completed, it will be made available to both parties.

But Mr. Burgess added that the report would not be available to the general public or media, claiming that, because it examined and made recommendations concerning the relationship between executives and workers at the company, it should be kept between those two parties.

The inquiry was launched by former Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness following a five day walkout by workers in March.

A spokeswoman for the company denied that management was holding back the report.

And she denied any knowledge of low morale at the company.

"We were expecting the report two weeks ago but we haven't seen anything yet,'' she said.

The inquiry was ordered by former Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness following a week long walkout by BTC staff in March.