The Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU) is targeting construction workers to try and bring them into the fold.

BIU President Derrick Burgess said there were currently only 100 unionised workers belonging to the construction division. According to the latest Government statistics there were 1,896 construction workers in the industry at the end of 1996. That number is expected to grow as the boom continues in the construction industry.

"We will be trying to reorganise our workers in the construction division,'' Mr. Burgess said. "Lots of workers receive less than what they would get under a collective agreement. There are lots of workers that are timid in seeking union representation. There are also employers out there that are unwilling to work with the union. In the past employers in the industry have been very vindictive and lots of people have lost jobs.'' He said the union would take an active role in recruiting workers by sending representatives to talk with them. "We are going to take an active role,'' he said.

Al Wharton, president of the Construction Association of Bermuda, said he had not seen any signs yet of a push for unionisation among workers in the industry. The association represents 37 member firms.

"When it does rear its head there will be some opposition to it,'' he said.

"I don't think most of the firms will do it in a forced way. They will look at it fairly to see if it has any merit. It will boil down to the bottom line.'' He said any push for higher wages in the industry will have to be balanced by increased productivity among workers.

"Unionisation will escalate the cost of doing business,'' he said.

MCKENNA TAKES CHARGE OF BUSINESS McKenna takes charge of business BUC HTH Audiologist Elizabeth McKenna is taking over Bermuda Hearing Services Ltd., a private firm to which local doctors refer patients with hearing problems.

The company was set up four years ago by Dr. Robert Vallis, who has left the Island. Ms McKenna was his sole employee. According to a legal notice the company is in the business of "adult and paediatric diagnostic audiology and occupational screening audiometry.''