No one disputes that trade unions are a critical element in the Bermuda economy or that they have done much to improve the living standards of their members and of the community as a whole.

And yet there are times when the public could be forgiven for thinking that the unions are determined to drive themselves to extinction, or at least into disrepute.

One recent example was the Bermuda Union of Teachers' decision to hold a members' meeting in the morning of a school day, a move apparently calculated to diminish whatever sympathy teachers may have had from parents. Now Bermuda Industrial Union president Chris Furbert has called for his members and the public to "do what we can to make sure that Continental (Airlines) does not fly to this country".

Not content with that, the union then picketed the airport yesterday.

With tourism in the doldrums and global financial markets and economies in turmoil, it is beyond belief that a community leader and a former Progressive Labour Party parliamentary candidate would make such a call and then force passengers to break picket lines in order to make their flights.

In the current economic environment, what airline does Mr. Furbert think will replace Continental if it is driven from LF Wade International? With friends like these, Premier and Tourism Minister Dr. Ewart Brown doesn't need enemies.

The irony is that the BIU appears to have something of a case. Although there is substantial disagreement between the union and the airline over the past history of negotiations, at first glance it would appear that Continental's staff have a legitimate grievance.

That's not to say that it will be proven, and it certainly seems unlikely that they will get their jobs back, but one would have thought that the Home Affairs Ministry would have given them a fair hearing and worked to secure a better deal for them.

The Bermuda Public Service Union took a different tack when its members were made redundant in the New York tourism office without adequate consultation. There the union made its case, took the issue to court and appears to have at last achieved a better deal for its members, albeit not a perfect one.

What would have been the reaction if the BPSU had taken the same tack as the BIU and stopped taking bookings for Bermuda or urged the public not to support local tourism?

Mr. Furbert recalled on Tuesday, apparently with some pride, how in the 1980s similar actions had helped to drive Eastern Airlines out of Bermuda for being "anti-union". But it was exactly these kinds of actions that helped to destroy Bermuda tourism – and Eastern Airlines. Where are Eastern's employees now?

The reality is that Bermuda is facing difficult times; the Island cannot afford to alienate its partners when many more jobs than those at Continental may be at stake.

That does not mean the BIU or any other union should not stand up for its members. But there are well established procedures and practices in place that can and should be followed. Trying to drive Continental out of Bermuda now is simply a case of cutting off your nose to spite your face.