dragging the rest of the Island into their fight is wrong, residents complained yesterday.

A random survey by The Royal Gazette found most persons fed up with the action taken by the Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU).

"I feel the labour dispute has gone a bit too far now,'' said Mr. Kervin Simmons. "People involved in the dispute have to really stop and analyse the situation. Is it worth what's taking place now? Of the 15 guys who are out of work, they say about seven have jobs but no one's sure. It started out with a purpose but now it seems like it's just a power struggle.'' Miss Tawana Gibbons described the strike as "ridiculous''.

"In a way, (BIU president Mr. Ottiwell Simmons) is only doing his job but he's taken it a bit too far. They should've gone on strike but not for this long and it should have just involved Bermuda Forwarders' workers.'' In the last week, dock and airport workers, followed by Government workers walked off their jobs demanding that 15 Bermuda Forwarders workers be rehired.

The 15 workers were fired after they walked off their jobs in protest of the firing of their shop steward, Mr. Lynn Darrell.

Many approached yesterday did not want to voice opinion for fear of voicing the "wrong'' opinion.

In one instance, a 26-year-old expressed his opinion only to have his mother later call to have what he said retracted.

"He didn't understand the entire situation,'' she said. "Now that his father has explained it to him, he doesn't think that anymore.'' "The dispute has to be resolved for the good of this Island,'' the man had said. "I think they should've gone on strike. Someone obviously did something wrong at Bermuda Forwarders but I don't think it's fair that (union shop steward Lynn Darrell) got fired. Even if the 15 workers don't want their jobs, it's the principle.'' Businessman Mr. Ken McPherson, who has only been on the Island for one year, said: "I'm ignorant on a lot of the issues (involving the union) and I know it has to stand up for its rights but from what I can see, there are a lot of extra people on strike and the dispute is between one union and one firm.

"Why they're closing down the rest of the Island is beyond me.'' Taxi driver Mr. Ed Turner said: "I think it's ridiculous. All this nonsense over two men.

These people should get out and work. If they had a beef with Bermuda Forwarders, they should've kept the problem there.

"All that nonsense down at the airport wasn't even called for. Aircraft Services Bermuda (ASB) and Bermuda Aviation Services pulled out and all of a sudden, I'm looking at the picket line and see all these Works and Engineering and Bermuda Telephone Company slickers. They're obviously not ASB employees.

Also, they were picketing at the airport entrance and their dispute was with the cargo area. Shouldn't they have been picketing there?'' Mrs. Sandra Jones said she felt the entire situation was "unwarranted''. "I don't think the union should've called a general strike,'' she said. "They should've had the 15 Bermuda Forwarders employees on television giving their views and the public would've understood what was going on and been able to give some feedback. It could've been left there. The union is a good thing but this time it's gone too far.'' Miss Samantha Walker said she felt the dispute should have stayed with the two parties initially involved -- the union and Bermuda Forwarders.

"I think it's become really drawn out,'' she said. "Somehow Bermuda Forwarders and the union should've solved their problems together and not involved the public, even if it meant going to court.

"It's only hurting the tourist industry this way.'' A concern that the strike could have a bad effect on the number of visitors who come to the Island was also expressed by Miss Arlene Andrews.

"Bermuda should realise that we're losing a lot of tourists this way,'' she said. "They're either going back earlier than planned or they're calling ahead to find out if the strike is still going on. I understand that the person they're doing this all for has two jobs. All the people who go on strike will probably end up losing their jobs and jobs are so hard to come by these days.'' Mr. Mitchell Foote said the whole situation was just "unfortunate in light of Bermuda's economy.

"Especially at this time,'' he said. "We're just getting back in the swing of things. People are just starting to work again and it seems like they're going to be out of work just as they started.'' "I just think it's been blown out of proportion,'' said Mr. Troy Thomas. "I guess the Union felt it had to make some drastic decision this time with something physical. I was talking to a friend of mine and he was saying (shop steward Lynn Darrell)'s behaviour on the job was questionable for some time. I don't think many people know the entire situation. They should find the source of the problem.'' "It's making us look bad in the eyes of the tourists,'' said Mr. David Tyrrell. "They're not going to benefit the Island by dragging everybody into it.'' Mr. Ken McPherson Mr. David Tyrrell Mr. Ed Turner Miss Samantha Walker Mrs. Sandra Jones Mr. Troy Thomas.