Buses will be pulled off the roads of Bermuda on Monday as an industrial dispute between management and staff over the sacking of a colleague for allegedly fighting worsens.

On Wednesday bus drivers and mechanics agreed to a ban on overtime in protest over last month's dismissal for fighting on Public Transportation Board property, a move which has already badly affected the service.

But yesterday the situation worsened as the Bermuda Industrial Union issued a statement saying the public holiday on Monday constitutes overtime and as a result no driver or mechanic would work.

Mr. Ottiwell Simmons, BIU President, said: "The Union was hopeful that the Public Transportation Board management would have agreed to mediation of the dispute.

"Regretfully, the Union and the Labour Department were unable to get management to the bargaining table. Management says they are not prepared to enter into discussions over the matter until Tuesday, June 20.'' Mr. Simmons added: "Monday is a public holiday and constitutes overtime for all bus operators and mechanics. Therefore no buses will be running and no mechanics will be working on that day.'' The Union believes the person was unjustifiably sacked and says all the bus drivers and mechanics are fully in support of the dispute. Mr. Simmons said he was confidant that no driver or mechanic would break the overtime ban on Monday.

The work to rule began last Thursday and has already had a marked affect on the bus service. Yesterday 48 out of the 106-strong bus fleet was off the road.

Some services were cancelled and others were late and scores of people were left waiting at bus stops.

Last night the boss of the Public Transportation Board warned that drivers could soon be sent home, without pay, if the dispute was not settled quickly.

PTD director, Mr. Herman Basden, warned: "I have more drivers than buses and the inevitable decision will have to be made to send drivers home. If they are sent home they will not be paid.'' On the number of buses out of action yesterday, Mr. Basden said: "That meant that some services had to be cancelled and some were running late. With that many buses out of service we just could not cope.'' He is expecting to meet an officer from the Labour Relations Office on Tuesday and said he had some proposals to put to the officer, but would not reveal what they were last night.

"I hope these proposals will go some way to resolving the dispute, however, I have to say that this is one of the most immature industrial disputes I have ever dealt with.

"I suspect that the vast majority of people do not support this action and I suspect the Bermuda Industrial Union does not support it either,'' added Mr.

Basden.