Bermuda Industrial Union president Derrick Burgess yesterday denied delays in labour law amendments was caused by the union.

Mr. Burgess was responding to Labour Minister Quinton Edness who blamed union leaders for delays in introducing laws allowing for workplace union ballots.

Mr. Edness had claimed that after agreeing consultation was needed on the amendments, they then became unavailable for meetings.

Mr. Edness said Mr. Burgess' attendance at international conferences had slowed down the process and added that the president was lying when he blamed the delays on Government.

Mr. Burgess said yesterday: "I do not wish to engage in a war of words, but I must set the record straight.

"As far as the BIU representatives attending conferences overseas is concerned, we attend the ILO (International Labour Organisation) conference every year, a conference that runs for three weeks in Geneva.

"The former Premier Dr. David Saul promised the Trade Union Amendment Act, in March, to be enacted during the Parliamentary session that was in session during the month of April.'' Mr. Burgess recalled that Dr. Saul said the BIU would receive a draft copy of the legislation.

The BIU called for the draft repeatedly and was told by Mr. Edness that it was still being drafted by the Attorney General's Chambers where illness had caused a delay.

This led to a further delay in getting the proposed legislation to Parliament for debate.

The BIU received a draft in May and sent in its submissions later that month.

Mr. Burgess said: "The problem came because the Minister wanted to add an exclusion clause that was not in the ILO model clause the former Premier referred to.'' He added that "the Minister's efforts to include the exclusionary clause has serious ramifications for the Island's work force, which as a trade unionist is my main concern''.