And they have been blamed over the failure of moves to bring peace to the industry.

The accusations have been levelled by the National Liberal Party.

NLP leader Mr. Gilbert Darrell said his party had fought for a joint select committee on labour.

It was intended management and union chiefs could present their cases to this committee.

But said Mr. Darrell: "Instead we had to manoeuvre to keep the committee together.

"The major parties contributed to the failure of the committee, a vehicle that could have found a source of remedy for a most important part of our economic existence.

"The irony: Both parties continue to play politics with the workers' livelihood and the hotels' investments.

"There is dissatisfaction by both union and non-union workers over the unsettling situation and in some instances where some workers are not performing as they should.

"We have a three-tiered work force in Bermuda today. Those who have enjoyed uninterrupted employment with an increase in wages; Those who have continued to work, but with no pay increase; and those who have been unemployed for two or three years.'' Mr. Darrell said Labour Minister the Hon. Irving Pearman had promised about a year ago to table the Industrial Relations Act.

This would replace existing labour legislation and be more in keeping with today's problems.

"Had he done this we might have a better situation with labour disputes with the hotels particularly.

"The economy is purported to be on the mend in Bermuda, simply because it appears to be on the mend in the United States.'' Mr. Darrell added, however, there seemed to be a cloud on the horizon -- a threat of industrial action by the Bermuda Industrial Union's hotel division.

Union chiefs claim hotel employers owe workers money for unpaid gratuities in 1992.

"Even a threat of industrial action in our tourist business has an adverse effect,'' said Mr. Darrell. "The NLP recognises that the work force is an important factor, just as management in this labour management equation.

"Job security, for the worker and a profitable operation for the hotel owners means these two factors must work together.''