A Government senator has refused to comment on allegations from a dockworker that he does not understand the collective bargaining process.

Education Minister Milton Scott, who is the human resource manager of dock manager Stevedoring Services, told The Royal Gazette recent labour action by dockworkers were over and was a dead issue.

In a terse comment, Sen. Scott said: "The matter has been resolved and I'm really not interested in discussing it in the media.'' Mr. Scott was deflecting criticism from the vice president of the Portworkers Division of the Bermuda Industrial Union, Orin Simmons.

Mr. Simmons wrote an article in the April 9 issue of the Worker's Voice in which he blasted Sen. Scott for suspending a docker for "misrepresentation''.

Mr. Simmons said two recent events had turned optimism in the hiring of Sen.

Scott -- a long time teachers union boss -- into despair at the state of relations with management at the docks which had reached a "new low''.

The article details recent dock disputes where there were sick outs over vacation time and a walkout over promotions. It states that the collective bargaining agreement is "clear and unambiguous'' on seniority, transfers, and promotions.

Mr. Simmons added: "I would have thought a self-confessed trade unionist like Sen. Scott would be familiar with that process.'' Stressing that dockworkers wanted no one to play favourites, only "justice'' Mr. Simmons said: "We would have thought that the human resource manager could do a better job interpreting the collective bargaining agreement.''