There will be an all-or-nothing battle early next month to be the head of the Island's white collar union.

General secretary of the 2,600-member Bermuda Public Services Association Ed Ball Jr. said last night president Betty Christopher and past president Leleath Bailey will be the only candidates for the top job on February 3.

Two other union officials, Alan Roberts and Debbie Kaye Martin, are running for election to the job of first vice-president.

Ms Bailey is the union's first vice-president and the pair have contested two previous elections with Mrs. Christopher winning by just 28 votes in 1998.

Ms Bailey won the 1996 election by 60 votes -- the first with direct voting, rather than by delegates. Both women are long-time union executive members.

"Both candidates have been campaigning, but I really expect them to get going full swing come this week,'' Mr. Ball said. "Yes, it will be all or nothing for them.'' BPSA candidates generally campaign directly with civil servants, meeting them in their workplaces.

The union also represents Cable and Wireless workers, hospitals, Bermuda College staff and lecturers and staff at Bermuda Telephone Company.

Mr. Ball was upbeat about the union's fortunes during 1999 and added the coming months were going to be busy for the secretariat.

"We have this election, and the biennial delegates conference, and seven negotiations coming up,'' he said. "Last year was successful in that it was without any work stoppages.

"That in itself is good. There were a lot of burning issues last year.'' And Mr. Ball promised renewed focus in the future on developing talent for the trade union movement from within.

"I can tell you we are trying our best to get some new people into the leadership of the BPSA,'' he said. "It is a difficult task in that once we get them prepared they often go on to greener pastures.

"We want to get the younger members interested in trade unionism. We are working on revamping the youth wing of the BPSA.'' Mr. Ball added: "We want to show them that trade unionism is not about being right, but reasoning and understanding trade union law.'' An advance poll will be held on January 27. BPSA members must be registered by January 14.