ruling on whether the Bermuda Forwarders' national strike was illegal.

Last month the Chief Justice the Hon. Sir James Astwood granted Government a provisional injunction barring illegal striking.

Now Government may press for a permanent injunction against the Bermuda Industrial Union. The BIU has maintained the strike was legal, and the issue may have to be resolved in the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, it was revealed yesterday another strand to the Government-BIU conflict may also be thrown in the court's lap.

It may have to decide the level of legal costs awarded against Government after the BIU won its appeal to overturn a $100,000-a-day fine and order for its assets to be seized.

The penalties were imposed by the Chief Justice for the union's alleged breach of the injunction.

After last week's Court of Appeal victory, BIU lawyer Mr. Julian Hall claimed legal costs, paid by the taxpayer, would run into "six figures.'' But Attorney General Mr. Walter Maddocks said such an amount would be contested.

If contested, costs would be assessed by the court, he said.