Fed up workers at CableVision have threatened to go on a sick-out today after waiting months for their backdated pay rises.

Staff claimed last night that between 20 and 30 technical and office workers were refusing to go in today in protest of the delay, and blamed management at the television company for holding up the new deal.

One man, who did not wish to be named, said the 4.5 percent pay deal was finalised as a result of arbitration earlier this year, with the understanding that it would be retroactive to the beginning of 2002.

But they said, as of yesterday, they were still waiting.

He said: "We have not received anything and it has been about three months now since arbitration finished.

"We think it's CableVision management holding up the programme. We want our retroactive pay and our pay increase.

"We are owed a lot of money, but the longer the company leaves it, the worse it will be. We have gone through all of the avenues, and we feel this is the only option now."

If the entire workforce goes sick today it will mean installations and repairs will not be carried out, as planned.

The worker added: "We do feel bad for the customers, but the only time they (management) understand is when we take action."

Staff at CableVision contacted the newspaper over a month ago to complain about the issue, but they said little had changed since. And they also complained that local workers were being overlooked and underpaid in comparison to foreign workers.

Last night, The Royal Gazette was unable to make contact with CableVision boss Jeremy Elmas to find out the latest on the retroactive pay, but a month ago he said they had no been given their money because the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the company and the Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU) has still not been signed. Arbitrators decided earlier this year that the workers should be given a 4.5 percent increase for 2002, followed by a further 4.5 percent increase for 2003 and then 4.5 percent next year.

But last night, the BIU's Derrick Burgess backed the workers and said they had no choice.

"Normally when you get an arbitration award that's it. People are paid almost immediately. I don't know why CableVision is holding this thing up. I went to the Labour Ministry last week and asked for their assistance. I think CableVision is a very difficult employer.

"This is uncalled for and the workers have been very tolerant."

Mr. Burgess said CableVision had put the issue in the hands of lawyer Allan Dunch while some issues were still being resolved, but the pay should be made immediately available.