Workers at the Bermuda Housing Corporation have threatened to go on strike following months of unrest over pay and conditions.

They have given three weeks' notice of strike action to the Bermuda Public Services Association (BPSA), citing performance-based pay rises and the managerial style as two of their major gripes.

The Royal Gazette understands that the BPSA is now in negotiations with management and labour relations officers in order to get the matter resolved.

But if the talks fail, and staff demands are not met, the 20 to 25 workers could walk off the job at the end of this month.

A worker, who did not wish to be named, told The Royal Gazette yesterday: “Last week the Bermuda Housing Corporation staff put in for a three-week strike notice.

“It has a lot to do with staff pay and the cost of living increases. There has been low morale for a few months now. Management is not listening to staff. People will go on strike if something is not done.”

Another source described the management as a “dictatorship” and said management was “rude” to the staff.

It is understood that the threat of industrial action has been made by staff across the board at the Corporation, which is a semi-public body with financial assistance from Government.

The action is believed to follow staff pay rises, in which all staff were given a basic cost of living increase, while some were also given additional pay for exceptional performance.

That has led to unrest among some of the employees, who feel everyone should have been given the same increase.

As public servants, they must give 21 days notice before walking off the job in dispute, but both Government and union officials yesterday expressed hope that the issues can be resolved before any industrial action is needed.

Yesterday, BPSA general secretary Ed Ball would only say that he was “in negotiation” on behalf of the corporation workers.

But he refused to comment any further.

After the strike notice was submitted last week, Health, Family Services and Housing Minister Nelson Bascome was informed and briefed.

Mr. Bascome said yesterday that he had spoken to Corporation general manager Raymonde Dill and had asked Government's Labour Relations officer to get involved.

He said he was now hoping a private consultant would be brought in to talk individually to each member of staff.

He said: “I spoke to Mr. Dill and he said the staff were mainly concerned about the performance-based pay.

“I have spoken with the BPSA and also with Labour Relations and asked them to go in and deal with this.

“Mr. Dill is willing to work with staff on this issue, and we are all trying to get this resolved as soon as possible.”

Yesterday Mr. Dill began three weeks' vacation, but last Friday, he told The Royal Gazette that he was not aware of any staff unrest or threat of legal action.

He said: “I have no information on that.”