Senator Milton Scott, that they refused to work with him, an insider has revealed.

The source said that a Bermuda Industrial Union letter giving five days notice of an overtime ban, which has landed the union in court, singled out Sen.

Scott as one of the three causes of discontent.

The letter, delivered to Stevedoring Services on January 31, also raised the issue of union recognition of office workers and unhappiness about disciplinary action against another manager.

Dockworkers fed up with Sen. Scott But the third item was Sen Scott himself, who before becoming Education Minister, spent more than a decade on the other side of the industrial fence heading the teachers' union.

Sen. Scott was blamed by the Bermuda Union of Teachers for sparking an escalation of their sick-out in October when he resorted to compulsory arbitration after just a few hours talking.

Last April the dockworkers leader accused Sen. Scott of failing to understand the collective bargaining process, despite his long years in the union movement.

Both the BIU and Stevedoring Services refused to talk about Sen. Scott, but it's understood the union backed down from the Scott issue when Labour Relations Officer told them they would have to talk with him.

UBP MP John Barritt said: "The irony is not lost on me or the people of Bermuda. It's seems there has been a falling out amongst friends.

"But that's what the Government has to rise above and take a firm stand.'' Mr. Barritt pointed out that the union were lucky they hadn't been arrested for ignoring a 1998 court order telling them to refrain from illegal overtime bans.

He said: "For contempt of court you can be arrested. My information is that the union called for the Trade Disputes Act to be invoked at short notice. But then they didn't show up.

"They show contempt for the court order and they show contempt for the minister.

"They are reverting to applying muscle.'' And Mr. Barritt added: "These things seem to flare up when Mr. Burgess is away and this seems to particularly apply to disputes on the dock.

"There seems to be a power play game in the union but the whole community has to suffer.'' Mr. Barritt attacked the Government for not cracking down after the union failed to show up for Friday's tribunal hearing.

He said: "Paula Cox has to make a stand for the good of the whole community.

"How much rope do you want to give them? It seems to me when the dispute escalated and the union held in contempt of court order they spurned the process.

"But the Government said `give them more time', saying if the union comes to their senses they might turn up.

"But it's the Government's responsibility to show backbone for the sake of the community.

"Because the alternative is anarchy when the union spurns the tribunal and is in contempt of a court order.

"One gets the impression the Government are playing footsie but it hasn't worked -- it's getting worse.

"I would hope the minister has something to say.'' DOCKWORKERS SHI