Peace appears to have broken out after the stand-off between the BIU and Government over the fate of Dwayne Pearman who crashed a ferry while drunk — but the row has again highlighted tensions between the labour movement and the Government it again helped elect.

It was most evident in the scene-stealing appearance of hundreds of demonstrating civil servants who delayed the Throne Speech last week in protest about Government's pay offer.

Bermuda Public Services Union president Armell Thomas said at the time: "Our presence speaks volumes and our numbers speak volumes."

Indeed it did but many were initially confused with the message.

Staunch PLP supporter and unionist Mark Markham was one of those who attended the Throne Speech and was excited to hear 'We shall overcome' being sung by marchers.

The realisation they were there to protest against a PLP government rather than for it came as a shock.

"I realised they were not there to support us, the spirit was not the same as in 1998," he said.

But there have been signs for a while that all was not well between the PLP and its union arm.

Old labour people were puzzled by the Premier's willingness to cosy up to non-unionised building contractors like Zane DeSilva and Dennis Correia.

Mr. DeSilva fought and won Southampton East Central from the UBP while Mr. Correia's wife Jane fared less well in the safe UBP seat of Smith's South.

But the point was long-standing PLP members had been passed over in the scramble for seats to fight.

And there is lingering frustration with Government from most of the major unions.

Last year pay talks between Government and teachers went to arbitration after teachers claimed Government had reneged on a promise.

Teachers union leader Mike Charles has consistently voice irritation about secrecy over education changes.

And now the Police are in arbitration after going without a new pay deal for well over two years.

The Labour Relations Office was unable to broker a deal with Government said to be taking a hard line.

Foot-dragging by Government on the BPSU's bid to unionise its overseas workers also raised eyebrows.

The union felt it had done everything by the book, getting sign off from the Tourism department, but it was then referred to the Attorney General's before Premier Brown announced last week it could go ahead — one year late.

BPSU secretary general Ed Ball said he had not expected that from a PLP government and he had yet to hear an adequate explanation for the delay.

He said the labour department had recognised the union in January 2007 but then a block had been put on it higher up.

He said: "If a person is assigned to negotiate you either let them get on with the job or you come to the table yourself."

And he said he was puzzled that the Labour Advisory Council — a forum for Government, unions and business — had been convened just once or twice in the whole time former BIU leader Derrick Burgess was at the helm of the Labour Ministry.

"The LAC needs to be reconvened like yesterday," he said.

He received support from Bermuda Employers Council executive director Martin Law who said: "Forums such as the LAC which create a good atmosphere between unions and Government are not being fully utilised."

Mr. Markham said the power balance between government and unions and even between the unions themselves was changing.

"The dynamics in this country are changing between the professional unions and the old-timers."

He said the BIU's old guard had not spotted the shift and still thought their union was the only one around, indeed some didn't think the BPSU was a union at all.

Mr. Markham questioned whether the BPSU was now becoming the foremost union in the country.

"There is a new paradigm in labour relationships. It means having a consolidation of the labour movement under one umbrella because labour has been fractionalised."

Describing himself as a radical who wants the PLP Government to be more labour-orientated, Mr. Markham said: "The BIU has its heart in the PLP. The question is whether the PLP has its heart in the BIU?

"We don't have new labour in Bermuda like Tony Blair represented new labour.

"Jennifer Smith represented new labour but Ewart Brown I think represents republicanism. The focus is on a move away from a post colonial Government."

Opposition labour spokesman Michael Dunkley believes relations between the PLP and the unions are still cordial but now the election is over disagreements could be brought out into the open without harming the party's chances.

But he said the Premier was not a typical labour leader. "He's never really shown that in his ideology or how he conducts himself."

There were bound to be clashes between labour and Government whoever was in power, said Mr. Dunkley.

"It seems some unions have been somewhat generous in dealing with the PLP government because they have a closer relationship. Now the election is over they feel they can push their weight around."

Mr. Ball said there were fears about the direction of the current Government.

"You don't expect a labour government to contract out or privatize services. That is reminiscent of the old Maggie Thatcher and Ronald Reagan conservative governments, that's worrying for unions.

"It means becoming more of a conservative Government than a labour Government."

He said two and three-wheel vehicle testing at TCD had been privatized and the BPSU was now keeping an eye on other similar threats.

"I think one thing workers are looking for is more openness and sincerity. Workers just want to ensure Government is listening and that they are being fair and that they are looking out for the interests of people and not necessarily the interests of just a select few."

And his BPSU colleague Armell Thomas said: "Trade unions normally support a labour government. We supported them through thick and thin. It's about time the labour government now supported the labour unions."

He said information, trust and transparency had been missing — and that could be a stumbling block whether it was a conservative government or a labour government.

"Things have gone wrong, maybe people are not disseminating information they were supposed to. People are sitting on things a bit too long. It breaks down, that's why we are at where we are.

"My members are frustrated."

He said the answer was more roundtable talks. "Both parties have to respect one another, more so the Government has to respect the unions. "Right now my people are tired. Are they tired because of the PLP?

"I couldn't tell you. I know they are tired because they have been run about for so long.

"All we are looking for is fair practice. We don't ask much."