the Bermuda Industrial Union was leading to the downfall of the Island's hotel industry.

Their outdated approach to labour relations had caused Bermuda to become "well known'' for industrial strife, said Mr. W.

A. (Toppy) Cowen, managing director of Pink Beach Club.

And he claimed the thinking had created the demise or sale of some 25 hotels, most recently including Somerset Bridge Hotel, Mermaid West Apartments, South Capers Cottages, Flamingo Beach Club, Bermudiana Hotel, Royal Palms and Banana Beach Cottages.

Mr. Cowen made the claims while once again slamming a Government-ordered hearing into a labour dispute at his hotel.

The hotel manager was most annoyed at the Labour Minister for ordering the board to determine whether a collective bargaining agreement exists between the hotel and the BIU -- "when clearly one has not since January 31''.

Although the hearing was triggered by the firing last year of a hotel worker, the Hon. J. Irving Pearman said the board should also decide whether a collective bargaining agreement exists between Pink Beach and the union.

The hearing dates, before the Essential Industries Disputes Settlement Board, are April 20 and May 25.

However, Mr. Cowen insisted ties were severed with the union properly and in accordance with the collective agreement. The outcome of the recent Grotto Bay Hotel disputes settlement board hearing had confirmed this, he said.

"It appears the Minister did not like the decision that was set down in the hearing of the Grotto Bay issue hence he wants it to be proved once again,'' Mr. Cowen said.

It was like being tried twice for a crime not committed, he said. The board had ruled no collective agreement existed between Grotto Bay and the BIU because it had been terminated in the proper manner.

Mr. Cowen added it was "ludicrous'' of Mr. Pearman to send the hotel before the board because management had dismissed an employee for threatening a guest on "at least three occasions by saying, `I'm going to punch you out'.'' It was equally unreasonable of the union to insist a collective agreement still existed at the hotel, he said.

"This archaic thinking that has squeezed the parameters of managerial prerogatives has caused Bermuda to be well known for industrial unrest and created the downfall or sale of some twenty-five hotels,'' he said. PHOTO Mr.

W. A. (Toppy) Cowen.