union leaders they claim are playing fast and loose with union rules and regulations.

They also allege their president of four years, Mr. Eugene Creighton, has become arrogant, inattentive to concerns and too close to the Bermuda Industrial Union.

Mr. Creighton yesterday dismissed the claims as a result of misunderstandings.

He said the union had a solid record in defending members' interests.

The dispute sheds light on the Electricity Supply Trade Union, a low-profile organisation representing nearly 300 Belco workers.

This week three union members told The Royal Gazette their grievances dated to February when the union held its annual general meeting at which Mr. Creighton was elected for the third time.

The workers, who wanted anonymity, said the meeting was not advertised in the newspapers according to union constitution. Only six workers attended after which the union executive council introduced measures to increase members' weekly dues -- an item not on the agenda.

With concerns unanswered by Mr. Creighton, workers organised a petition. On June 9, they handed him a 121-name petition of no confidence in union leadership: "We, the following members of the Bermuda Electricity Supply Union, have always viewed our union as democratic -- one which looked out for the common good of all.

"Recent events have caused us to think differently. Please view these signatures not only as a vote of no confidence but as a petition for a meeting to resolve our differences.'' The petition, representing more than a third of the union, had enough signatures to require the executive to call a special meeting within seven days. No meeting was called.

Yesterday, Mr. Creighton said the petition did not result in a special meeting because the organiser flouted correct procedure. The constitution specifies special meetings can only be called by the union secretary. Since the petition was handed to him and not the secretary, he did nothing.

The petition also did not specify the purpose of the meeting -- another constitutional requirement.

Mr. Creighton said the petition organiser is "quite well versed with the Constitution. He knows how it goes...'' He said: "I personally delivered to every notice board information on the February meeting and made sure deliveries were made to Somerset and St.

George's,''.

"Although the constitution says we can put ads in the newspapers if need be, it's never to my knowledge been done.'' Mr. Creighton defended the fact that dues were raised at the February meeting though the measure was not on the original agenda.

"After election of officers, I said the dues had not been raised in four years and we need to raise it to keep out of debt,'' he said. "A motion was made from the floor. It was seconded. Everything we did was quite constitutional and valid.'' The union members who approached The Royal Gazette criticised Mr. Creighton's BIU involvement.

"He's now so linked with the hierarchy of the BIU, he has no time for us,'' one said.

But Mr. Creighton said his contacts with the BIU were necessary for exchanges of information, and denied being influenced.