The cost of pouring oil on troubled industrial waters at the docks should be split between all the parties involved, Shadow Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Michael Dunkley said yesterday.

And Mr. Dunkley backed BIU leader Derrick Burgess' call for a trouble-shooting team to review industrial relations at the docks in a bid to bring a halt to a series of disputes at Stevedoring Services.

But he called for a totally independent body or individual to be drafted in to avoid potential conflict between Mr. Burgess' union job and his role as a Government MP.

Mr. Dunkley said: "I would certainly support a review -- but people have to put their money where their mouth is.

"We would have longer-standing relationships which would be more fruitful if the cost of arbitration and mediation was shared among the employer and the union involved.

"Currently, we just turn to Government and say `just do it' -- Government should be a partner in the process but everybody should share the cost.'' And he predicted the parties in disputes would reach settlements quicker if it cost them cash to bring in outside help.

He added: "I am concerned that any review be done by an independent body -- it has to be removed because Mr. Burgess has a bit of a conflict.

"He's a union leader and a Member of Government -- I would want somebody totally independent and that person could be agreed on by the union and Stevedoring Services.'' Mr. Dunkley spoke out after the promotion of a foreman, which the union claimed was not based on seniority, which is in line with the collective bargaining agreement and custom and practice on the docks.

Dockers walked out last week and marched to the nearby BIU HQ for a meeting with Mr. Burgess.

Mr. Dunkley added: "There have been ongoing problems at the docks -- it's an essential service and it appears every time they have problems it's definite issues. It needs to be looked at to see exactly what the problem is.

"The relations between management and staff are not the best and it needs to be worked through because the country can't afford to keep going through this.'' Mr. Dunkley said extra costs in overtime for docks customers because of delayed handling of cargo would inevitably be passed on to the consumer.

And he warned: "We can expect this kind of thing to happen again if the problems are not resolved.'' Mr. Dunkley said he was disappointed by Mr.

Burgess' statements that unrest spreading to other sectors of the workforce could not be ruled out -- raising fears of a general strike, the Island's first for years. He added: "The situation at the docks, it seems they always walk out to prove their point and that's not the right approach in that type of industry. We need to progress from that.'' Mr. Burgess has since distanced himself from talk of a general strike on the Island.

But Mr. Dunkley said: "When I heard these comments, I was extremely disappointed to hear someone in Mr. Burgess' position of responsibility resort to what can only be called scaremongering tactics.

"I would not expect that from a Member of Parliament or a union leader.

"There is a labour Government in power now for the first time ever and it's tantamount to him holding his Government and the country to ransom.'' Michael Dunkley