MPs were locked in debate early this morning over controversial changes to labour laws which would allow middle managers to join trade unions.

Home Affairs Minister Paula Cox, introducing the Trade Union Amendment Act at 1 a.m. this morning, said it would give all Bermudians their Constitutional right of freedom of association.

Ms Cox said traditionally, the right of managers to join unions had been dependent on employers, and a legal framework to allow managers to choose a union had been missing.

She said the Constitution provided for freedom of association and that the desire was to introduce a greater degree of democracy into union representation.

Ms Cox said the PLP had promised to redress the imbalance in the previous system and "We keep our promises''.

The amendments provide that managers need not be in the same bargaining unit as workers as this could cause conflict. The bill gives managers the option of being in a separate unit.

And she hit back at allegations of a lack of consultation over the proposed amendments, which are opposed by employers.

She said the Labour Advisory Council comprised of employers, Government and trade unions, had discussed the amendments and that there had been dialogue with the ILO.

Ms Cox said the Government did not want to see a rift forming between employers and employees. "We will not be doing anything to cause the economy to collapse,'' she said.

Ms Cox reviewed the history of the development of trade unions and the role that the International Labour Organisation played in this.

But Opposition MPs warned the bill would play "crown and anchor with the economy'' and would present managers who joined unions with a conflict of interest between loyalty to the employer and loyalty to the company.

Shadow Home Affairs Minister Michael Dunkley warned the new law could "close down the country overnight''.

He described the Act as a "sham'' which "would create a blatant conflict of interest and could create further bureaucracy and lead to inflation''.

Mr. Dunkley also attacked the way Government had rushed the legislation through "at the dead of night'' and said it had gone back on promises to consult employers.

"They hung their hat on tripartite consultation, but this tripartite method had not been given a chance here,'' he said.

Remarking on Bermuda Industrial Union president and Government MP Derrick Burgess, he wondered to Government jeers if the union was "so close to Government'' that it could force through legislation which was "detrimental to the Country''.

Mr. Dunkley also attacked the state of labour relations since the Government had taken power.

"There have been more disputes in the last nine months than ever before,'' he said, citing the Police "blue flu'', dock disputes and taxi protests among other problems.

See Monday's paper for full debate UNIONS UNS