An eleventh-hour bid to get an injunction forcing essential services back to work was postponed last night to be heard again this morning.

The legal bid is separate from Labour Minister Randy Horton's referral of the dispute to a tribunal which makes the BIU action in support of CableVision workers illegal.

Last night Attorney General Paula Cox went before Acting Chief Justice Norma Wade-Miller who adjourned the hearing to this morning to allow all parties to be heard.

Ms. Cox said: "This application was made mindful of the public interest and the need to have the various essential services operative again as soon as possible, given the critical need to continue clean-up efforts in the aftermath of hurricane Fabian."

She said under the Labour Relations Act 1975 industrial action taken by an essential service requires 21 days' notice.

Essential industries under the Act which have been involved in the CableVision dispute include waste, port and dock services including pilots and tug operators, postal workers and telecommunications.