Simmons MP said yesterday.

After meeting at Bermuda Industrial Union headquarters with about 50 Elbow Beach workers, Mr. Simmons said the union was firm in its resolve to force management to reinstate their collective agreement.

"This is one time that the union has made up its mind that it will not take any more,'' Mr. Simmons told reporters. "Enough is enough.'' For weeks, the BIU has threatened to stage a three-day strike as soon as occupancy at the Paget hotel hits 70 percent. Elbow Beach management said occupancy passed that mark during the first weekend in April, but the union said it was lower, and the threatened strike did not materialise.

This time, there is closer agreement between the two sides, if only on that issue.

Mr. John Jefferis, managing director at Elbow Beach, said: "The hotel is over 70 percent.'' Mr. Simmons said the BIU had "indications'' occupancy would exceed 70 percent this weekend, but they needed to be verified. The strike could be called today, he said.

Mr. Simmons added there was no guarantee it would last only three days. The BIU has called another meeting on Tuesday for all hotel workers.

The dispute arose after management -- which says it can no longer work with the BIU - replaced the collective agreement with a new deal that included improved wages and benefits, profit sharing, and a management-worker committee to settle grievances.

Mr. Jefferis again blasted the union leadership yesterday, accusing the BIU of extortion and taking money out of workers' pockets by scaring guests from the hotel.

"This is typical of the union being more concerned with their political ambitions, rather than the increased standard of living of workers in Bermuda,'' Mr. Jefferis said.

Home Affairs Minister the Hon. Irving Pearman has referred the matter to the Essential Industries Disputes Settlement Board on June 28, and that is where the BIU should air its grievance, he said.

Mr. Simmons, meanwhile, said he was "amazed'' by the actions of both hotel management and Government. Tourism Minister the Hon. C.V. (Jim) Woolridge should tell the foreign owners: "If you cannot take our local union, and you're trying to get them out of here, then we will take your hotel licence, and you get out of here,'' Mr. Simmons said.

"This is tantamount to destabilisation of this country by outside forces.'' Meanwhile, the BIU has sent notices to all its members warning of the "pending strike,'' and asking them to boycott Elbow Beach and all Wyndham Hotels properties abroad.

Major US wholesalers yesterday said they were aware of a dispute at Elbow Beach, but would continue selling the property to clients as normal until they learn whether the threatened strike will materialise.

And information officers at the Bermuda Department of Tourism in New York were telling callers there was no reason to avoid Elbow Beach.