Stevedoring Services management had their hands full yesterday when Hamilton Docks workers decided they would not break standard practice and strip a container without the presence of Customs officers.

Shadow Home Affairs Minister Michael Dunkley said that someone at Government had dropped the ball in not ensuring that Customs officers were at the docks yesterday.

Winds were too high to work on the container ships, but when ordered to strip containers that were already on the docks, the workers baulked.

Almost all Government offices were closed as a result of the storm. That meant Customs officers were not available for container stripping.

According to Bermuda Industrial Union president Derrick Burgess, the managers insisted they go ahead, saying they had permission to strip the containers without Customs being present.

"The dock workers have never done any stripping without Customs officers present," said Mr. Burgess. "Management told them they had permission but we saw nothing in writing."

He said the workers did not show up at work just to down their tools.

"They went to work to work", despite the inclement weather, he said. "When Customs are off, you can't touch it. How can you take the place of a Customs officer? I don't think you can do that in any country."

He explained that Customs had showed up before the dock workers but then had knocked off. And by early afternoon most of the dock workers had gone home to take care of their families.

When contacted, Bruce Lines of Stevedoring Services would only confirm that the workers had downed their tools.

"That's all I'm willing to tell you at this point," he said. No one at the Customs department could be contacted.

Meanwhile, importers with perishable goods on the docks were left fuming. Dairy importer Mr. Dunkley, who has five containers waiting to be unloaded told The Royal Gazette that this was not a time to down tools.

"I'm disappointed by the whole situation because we're going through a difficult time now and it's obviously been complicated by the storm," he said.

Dozens of hotels and restaurants were despserate for deliveries of his products which had already been delayed when the storm hit yesterday, Mr. Dunkley explained.

It was "highly unconscionable" for the dock workers who perform an essential service to lay down their tools, he said.

"I find it difficult to understand."

And he said the winds had died down considerably by early afternoon yesterday making it possible for his containers to be taken off the ship.

But he also criticised the decision to shut down most Government services. Noting that Immigration had someone in the offices to process birth certificates and travel documents, he said the same consideration should have been given to Customs at the docks.

"There are many people working in Bermuda today and employers are giving special consideration to their employees... Government's got to take the same focus. I just think we've dropped the ball."

And he said yesterday's problems would mean additional expense for importers.

"You just keep stacking the odds against coming through this difficult period," he said. "We sink or swim together".