officers protesting the hiring of a non-Bermudian woman who is married to a Bermudian.

As the furore entered its second day, BIU president Mr. Ottiwell Simmons MP asked all BIU members who worked on the docks and at the airport not to help out by doing any work that "is normally assigned to customs officers.'' Yesterday, Collector of Customs Mr. Gerry Ardis said about 60 of the 143-strong Customs department called in sick although another source insisted the number was closer to 100.

And the latter source, who spoke to The Royal Gazette under the condition of anonymity, said officers were expected to be absent from work again today.

The action was aimed more at Mr. Ardis' management style, rather than the actual hiring, the source said.

Many of the problems Customs officers raised last summer, including physical working conditions, have still not been settled despite talks between officers and management.

The source said Mr. Ardis agreed to address the problems, but has done very little.

"The man is not suited to be Collector of Customs.'' the source said. "This is like the straw that broke the camel's back.'' Meantime, Mr. Ardis said the woman, Mrs. Sarah Carter Pendleton, spent her first day on the job yesterday.

When contacted by The Royal Gazette last night, Mrs. Pendleton declined to comment.

"I really don't want to discuss it,'' she said.

And last night Labour and Home Affairs Minister the Hon. Irving Pearman confirmed the law now automatically granted spouses of Bermudians the same employment rights as Bermudians.

Although the "sick-out'' did cause some difficulties at the airport and at Customs yacht reporting facility, Mr. Ardis said all of the main Customs posts were operational. These included the Hamilton docks, the Queen's warehouse, Hamilton's long room, the Airport's freight shed.

"There were very few delays even though we had a substantially reduced staff,'' he said. "We are coping but I hope this will be short-term.'' The current difficulties began after it was announced Mrs. Pendleton was chosen as one of six new recruits.

Some officers were angry because Mrs. Pendleton was picked over hundreds of Bermudians competing for the available spots.

"People with Bachelors and Masters degrees have applied for that post since last year.'' the source said. "It is not even clear if this woman has a degree.'' He said Mrs. Pendleton came here on a work permit and married a man who only recently earned Bermudian status.

"We are glad that Dr. Saul has called for an investigation and I do hope that this investigation will be fair to all parties, because we usually end up with the short end of the stick.

"In fact, they should have an open inquiry and allow the officers who want to speak out to do so,'' said the source.

Mr. Ardis said his department complied fully with the BPSA and the Department of Personnel Services' hiring procedures and consulted fully with the Immigration department.

CLOSED -- Calvin Wilson of Rafur trucking services peers at a notice posted at Customs' Air Freight.