WORKERS at the island's only large-scale cement importer stopped supplying customers yesterday ? threatening chaos in Bermuda's booming construction industry.

Bermuda Cement Company (BCC) workers started their action at 9 a.m. yesterday in protest at the indecision of company landlord the West End Development Corporation (Wedco) which has left the company's future ? and their jobs ? in limbo.

Yesterday afternoon, Wedco officials were in talks with BCC directors as the plant's six staff, supported by the truckers who make deliveries from the plant, halted output.

Stacy Simmons, the manager of BCC's Dockyard plant, said the workers had taken their action independently of the company owners.

"This has been going on for two years and Wedco and the Government should have made a decision by now," Mr. Simmons said.

"This was not an easy decision to make as we know it will affect a lot of people. We took the decision to give Wedco a push towards making their decision.

"It's not just the plant workers, but the truckers as well, who have livelihoods and mortgages at stake. We simply want to know what's going to happen. There's a guy who's been working here for 25 years. What's going to happen to him?

"As soon as someone from the Government or Wedco can tell us what's going to happen, then we can start supplying customers again."

Mr. Simmons stressed that BCC was regarded by the workforce as a good employer and that the workers' issue was with the landlord, not the company.

Wedco had promised to give a decision by this month as to what would happen to the lease for the cement plant site, where BCC has been the tenant for the past 40 years. The lease will expire at the end of 2005.

BCC wanted to push on with a multi-million-dollar upgrade of its ageing plant in the face of increasing demand from the island's construction industry, but has put those plans on hold since Wedco advertised for "expressions of interest" in the site last year.

BCC director Jim Butterfield, one of 12 local BCC shareholders, said yesterday that he had received a brief letter from Wedco last Thursday.

The letter said Wedco had viewed the company's detailed future plans, submitted on June 15 this year, and had decided to pursue an alternate future for the site. BCC would be further advised, it added.

"After seven months, Wedco have not only moved the goalposts, they've changed the game," Mr. Butterfield said.

"There is one year left on the lease and we don't know what to do, whether we should start selling our plant equipment off or what.

"This is a business that has been around for 40 years, with local shareholders and local employees, and which supplies the entire island.

"Now it would appear the Government wants to take possession of this business without paying for it. The way this company has been treated is unacceptable."

Mr. Simmons said Mr. Butterfield had kept staff informed of the situation with Wedco, as best he could. And after the latest letter from Wedco, the staff decided to take their own action.

"All we want to know from Wedco and the Government is: What's going on?" Mr. Simmons said.

"This plant can't keep going for another year, it's falling apart. We are working ten to 12 hours a day, six days a week and we still can't keep up with demand. The equipment is antiquated and the plant is literally falling apart.

"BCC is prepared to invest millions to upgrade the plant, but still we hear nothing from Wedco. I have spoken to (Wedco general manager) Lloyd Telford and I get the impression that if it was up to Wedco alone, this thing could be resolved quickly. But I have tried to call the Works & Engineering Minister (Ashfield DeVent) and he has not responded."

During a meeting of plant staff and truck drivers, Mr. Simmons said a lack of faith in the Government had become apparent.

"We have no faith in this Government to deal with this situation," Mr. Simmons said. "We hear the Premier talk about empowering black Bermudians. So why is he trying to take away a business that employs Bermudians?

"Has he ever heard of any industrial relations problems there? No. It's a company that does its work quietly and tries to keep costs at a minimum for the island.

"The Government thinks the Cement Company is making too much money, so they want to close it down. What are they going to do next? Close down Belco? Or shut down Trimingham's because they are making too much.

"I know, from personal experience, this company does everything possible to keep the price of cement low. The price has not risen in five years, despite rising costs. What other commodity can you say that about? The company is doing well, yes, but it is not making huge amounts."

BCC, which imports loose cement in specialised ships, was currently able to supply customers at around $6 a bag. But if others had to import their own bagged cement the cost could be as much as $15 a bag, he added.

Mr. Simmons said he had spoken with major customers, such as SAL, and had agreed to supply them with sufficient cement to meet demand for current jobs, but all supplies were halted yesterday morning.

"The sad thing is that this is going to affect the average person who is building a home as well as contractors and the Government's big projects," Mr. Simmons said.

"The issue for us is not whether BCC gets the contract. We just want to know what's going to happen so we can go forward.

"Can you imagine what would happen if it gets to December 31 next year (when the lease expires) and Wedco does not have a plan?

"How long would it take to put in a new plant? It would take months. And Government is talking about building all those new units at St. David's. Where would their cement come from?"