Thousands of workers brought Hamilton to a standstill this morning as they sent a message to Government they would not back down over pay.

In a historic demonstration, officers from the Bermuda Police Association walked on Parliament for the first time, silently protesting Government’s call for a judicial review of their binding arbitration award.

The Bermuda Public Services Union - whose arbitration award has also been called into question, were also present in their hundreds. They were joined by their sister unions in the Bermuda Trade Union Congress and also Works and Engineering staff in the Bermuda Industrial Union.

Thousands converged along Reid Street, Parliament Street and Court Street to march up the hill to the House of Assembly.

Once there, union leaders addressed Labour Minister Senator David Burch, expressing their discontent.

Senator Burch said: “I have heard the messages delivered to me this morning and I will take them away. I have some ideas about how we can do things differently. But you should draw some comfort from the fact that I do not do things recklessly or lightly. I have heard what you’ve had to say this morning, I have got the letters, and I have some ideas about how we can do things differently in this country with labour relations.

“I also know I have to work hard if I’m going to have to prevent you from coming in and marching hard. I will give you my undertaking that I will do that. I will go back to my colleagues in Government and come up with some ideas.”

He added: “If it’s up to me, you will never have to march again to get our attention, because I will resolve that.”

Premier Dr. Ewart Brown later addressed the media. He said he was “disappointed” at the demonstration but added: “I believe a resolution is not far away.”

“My job is to make sure the labour environment in Bermuda is positive,” said Dr. Brown. “I’m disappointed that we continue to see people expressing their discontent about the labour environment. I feel responsible and because I feel responsible, we will respond in creative ways. But we will not continue to have a ‘negative’ environment in Bermuda.”

Both the Premier and Senator Burch said they could not go into further detail about the “creative ways” but that they felt the situation would “be resolved”.

* See The Royal Gazette tomorrow for full story, reaction and pictures.