walked out on the job yesterday.

Although the reason for the dispute has not been confirmed, The Royal Gazette understands dockworkers downed tools after a colleague was suspended for one day.

Workers then downed tools, arguing that proper disciplinary procedures had not been followed.

Last night the quayside was littered with cargo from the container vessel Oleander , which was being unloaded when the action began.

Officials from both sides refused to discuss the latest industrial action.

Despite repeated calls to dock management company Stevedoring Services, nobody from the firm was available to comment.

And Bermuda Industrial Union president Derrick Burgess also refused to comment.

"All I can confirm is that there is a dispute at the docks,'' he said. "But at this point I don't wish to comment further.'' Last night's action is the latest in a series of disputes between dockworkers and management and is bound to strain relations between the two parties.

And it could also scupper next month's planned arbitration talks to thrash out a new collective agreement.

In March, workers carried out wildcat action over a dispute concerning a new collective agreement. A temporary ceasefire between the two sides was finally arranged after Labour Minister Paula Cox stepped in, on the promise that the issue would be decided in arbitration.

Last night, Ms Cox emphasised that the two issues were not related.

And she also confirmed that talks would be held later today and that she was confident an agreement would be reached.

When asked what had sparked off the dispute Ms Cox would only say: "It's a personnel matter.

Dockworkers walk out over one-day suspension "I believe a meeting will be held tomorrow. I don't have a crystal ball but I am hopeful that they will be back to work tomorrow.'' Shadow Labour Minister Michael Dunkley said he was not fully aware of all the facts and did not wish to blame either party.

But he said that his main concern was that the dispute suggested that proper guidelines were not being followed.

And he added that the unrest would send the wrong message out to the rest of the world.

"Here we have another situation and it's paramount that we stop playing these games and start dealing with it in a way that proper people do,'' Mr. Dunkley said.

"We have lost two days work and customers will begin to feel the pinch -- all we have to offer is our services.

"Tourism is down and we don't want to be sending out the wrong messages that we're not following proper procedures.

"I am just appealing to employers and employees to do things in the proper way.

"It's also a concern that people don't want to talk about the matter -- people are saying nothing.

"Although I don't know all the facts in this case I do know that the Minister made a statement in the House of Assembly that they were trying to work on labour relations and everything would be smooth. I said at the time that that's not an easy thing to do because people have problems and if those problems aren't addressed then there's going to be some fall-out.

"But we have had ongoing problems at the Docks and the Minister needs to be firm. She can bring the two sides together and say `come on, lets deal with it'. I am disappointed that she's not standing up and saying enough is enough.'' But the Minister hit back saying that at this stage there was no need for her to get involved.

But she also refused to confirm that workers had gone through all the necessary procedures before walking out.

"I would prefer not to comment on that but there is legislation in place and that should be used,'' she said. "If guidelines aren't being followed that highlights that things need to be addressed.

"But both sides are talking and at this stage I don't think it's necessary for me to become involved.'' Go slow : The scene at Hamilton Docks yesterday after workers walked out.

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