and garbage trucks stopped working.

But there were signs of progress by the end of the day.

Bermuda Aviation Services agreed to delay for a week its ultimatum to employees to return to work or lose their jobs forever.

And sources said some progress was apparently made in tackling the issue that led to yesterday's events -- a Bermuda Forwarders dispute in which 15 truckers lost their jobs.

Labour Minister the Hon. Irving Pearman talked separately with the parties several times yesterday. In a statement last night, the Minister "expressed cautious optimism.'' Yesterday's walkout by the Bermuda Industrial Union's transport-related divisions had mixed results.

The airport functioned almost as normal, and a small number of containers moved off the docks. Ferry and bus service stopped completely, and garbage was only collected in the City of Hamilton.

"Workers who have no direct interest in the dispute now find themselves drawn into it, putting their jobs and their livelihoods at risk,'' Premier the Hon.

Sir John Swan told the House of Assembly yesterday morning.

"Even at this late hour I am convinced...that there can be a settlement to this dispute. That, however, will require the willingness on the part of both the Bermuda Industrial Union and the Bermuda Forwarders to put the national interest ahead of their own narrow concerns.'' Later, BIU president Mr. Ottiwell Simmons MP said: "I'm getting the impression that there are busy-bodies out there trying to create, invent, seek or find a solution.

"But at this point nobody has come here with the solution we are mandated to seek: That all 15 men be reinstated by Bermuda Forwarders in accordance with the board of inquiry report.'' The men lost their jobs when they walked out in a dispute with Bermuda Forwarders last October. The inquiry recommended they be reinstated in December, but it was non-binding, and the forwarding company had maintained from the outset it would not be bound by it.

Earlier this week, one dock worker and two airport workers were suspended for refusing to handle Bermuda Forwarders cargo and on Wednesday many of their colleagues walked out in support.

Yesterday, managers and a small group of unionised employees moved 18 containers off the docks in the morning, and several more in the afternoon.

That was at least average for Fridays, which are normally slow. But it failed to make a dent in the container backlog that developed earlier this week.

At the airport, planes arrived and left on time and passengers reported few problems. BAS officials said about three-quarters of their staff of 210 unionised workers were working and one source said this included two shop stewards.

Mr. Simmons said "a great deal of respect'' had been shown to the picketers, both at the docks and the airport.

The most worrying incident reported to him, he said, occurred when BIU airport division president Mr. Clement Smith was knocked down by a US Navy van. It appeared to be an accident, he said, and Mr. Smith received only a scratch.

The flow of international mail from the airport sorting station was slowed, Postmaster General Mr. Clevelyn Crichlow said, when some post office van drivers refused to cross picket lines.

Most taxis were going through a picket line across the entry road to the terminal during the airport's busy midday period, where eight workers marched back and forth carrying placards.

A Beeline bus and several trucks were also seen to go through. The picketers, who would not speak to reporters, found support from passing motorists who waved and sounded their horns.

Taxi drivers respecting the picket line let their passengers off at the roundabout, leaving them to carry their luggage down the road to the airport.

Mr. Simmons said Transport Director Mr. Donald Dane was at the scene and told at least one taxi passenger dropped outside the airport not to pay his fare.

New Jersey visitor Mr. Bernie Rogalski, who had been on vacation with his wife Marilyn, was one departing airline passenger whose taxi ride was cut short.

"I'm not too worried about it,'' he said. "We have unions back in the States.

"This is the crowning glory to our vacation,'' he joked. "Rain every day and now this.'' At the BAS inflight services gate a similar number of picketers gathered, their placards carrying slogans including "Unity is Strength'' and "Enough is Enough''.

At the airport, arriving passengers seemed unaffected by the strike, reporting no delays in getting their luggage. "There's a strike on?'' said repeat visitor Mr. David Mundy, emerging from the arrivals hall after flying from Toronto. "You're kidding. That's the fastest I've ever been through it.'' One non-union taxi driver picking up passengers said going through the picket line had not really bothered him.: "I'm an independent driver trying to make a buck, that's all.'' The captain of the cruise ship Nordic Prince had the necessary experience to leave Hamilton yesterday without the usual pilot aboard.

"The biggest complaint was lack of buses for tours,'' said Mr. Don MacPherson of John S. Darrell Ltd., the ship's agents. "We had terrible weather and this made a bad situation worse. It was a horrible trip for those people.'' Garage workers, who were also called to walk out, apparently did not respond in significant numbers. Two of the biggest unionised garages, Bermuda Motors and Pearman Watlington's reported no response. "I'm proud of my staff,'' said PW's chief general manager Mr. Will Cox. "I appreciate what they have done.'' MAKING THEIR POINT -- Picketers at the BAS gate were staying tight-lipped. But their placards got the message across.