Bitter words were aimed at Premier Jennifer Smith yesterday as she addressed massed members of the Bermuda Industrial Union on the steps of the House of Assembly.

Works and Engineering Division President Colleen Clacken chastised the Premier for Government inaction over lingering labour disputes which erupted into yesterday's strike.

She said: "The people of this country would like to inform you that we have matters of concern which have not been addressed."

"These things are of urgency to us, the people who elected you to the position which you now hold.

"I would like to tell you to inform your acting Labour minister to stop acting, because if he went into his files he will see there are many, many letters written to his ministry concerning these matters.

"We would not be here if they were dealt with before, because they weren't. We are here now and we expect these matters will be dealt with. We trust they will dealt with, that is why we voted for a PLP government."

The Premier said she wished the concerns had been addressed to her earlier, before it got to such a point that people had to march.

"I was not aware of the matters you have talked about. I would not be aware because each minister has a responsibility.

"Your president sees me every Wednesday, he can get to me."

BIU president Derrick Burgess, who was standing behind the Premier, disputed the claim, with the words "Nonsense!"

He said: "I can't get to you Madame Premier, I can't get to you. Got to go through ten different people to get to you! I can't even call her."

The Premier invited the union to meet with her at noon on Monday. She said she hoped the Employment Act 2000 would have calmed labour tension. "If it is not working it is something we have to know about."

At noon on Monday the BIU will meet with Ms Smith and Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Terry Lister, who returns over weekend.

Asked later for her reaction to the confrontation, Ms Clacken said: "I am not happy with that. She had opportunity to speak with my president, he tried to contact her and it was fruitless.

"I am sure she can't say she didn't have an inclination that this was going to go down at some point."

Asked how the Premier could resolve private disputes between business and the union Ms Clacken said: "She has the power."

And Public Transport shop steward Glen Simmons said he was unhappy the Premier was waiting until Monday to get down to business.

He said: "We wanted it today."