Tourists and Bermudians stranded at the Hamilton bus station for hours yesterday say they understand the need to cancel service, but wish some notice was given.

Bus and ferry services were cancelled at 10 a.m. as all unionised Government workers were called to a meeting at the Bermuda Industrial Union.

The downing of tools stemmed from a disagreement between the union and officials from the Ministry of Works and Engineering.

The meeting involved a demonstration starting from the union's headquarters and ending at the offices of Works and Engineering.

Most workers returned to their jobs at 2 p.m. but bus drivers held an additional meeting to discuss unrelated matters, which meant the vehicles remained in their bays till 3.30 when service resumed.

The last-minute decision to cancel buses and ferries until 3 p.m. however, left the public stranded at the Hamilton Bus Terminal.

When The Royal Gazette arrived at the terminal at 1 p.m. almost 30 people were waiting.

Andrew Arnouk, who is visiting from Maryland, USA with his two children Mario, 7, and Stephanie, 9, said: "We've been waiting for an hour. We're trying to go to Dockyard."

The Arnouks arrived on Thursday and yesterday morning, decided to take a bus from Flatts to Hamilton and then a Ferry to Dockyard.

However, when the family checked with the ferries, they found the service was cancelled and went to the bus stop where they had been waiting for over an hour when The Royal Gazette>spoke with them.

Mr. Arnouk was not upset, though no one had told him why the cancellation of public transportation. However, his daughter had one concern about her delay to Dockyard.

She said: "I wanted to see the dolphins."

Rod Scott was far from happy. He paid for a taxi to get into Hamilton at 10 a.m. and when The Royal GazettI>spoke with him at 1 p.m. he was already late for his job at the Civil Aviation Department of the Bermuda International Airport.

He said: "I went to hospital this morning and finished at 10. I shared a taxi into Hamilton, which charged us a fortune and I've had lunch and now I'm just waiting."

The feeling was similar for Earl Bascome who took a taxi into Hamilton only to find himself stranded at the bus stop for three hours.

He said: "I'm trying to get to Devil's Hole and there have been announcements saying the buses and everything is suspended until further notice.

"These things will be, but it was just such short notice. They should have warned someone in advance."