A recent survey of more than 400 Bermudian residents indicates they have seen little change in the state of labour relations in Bermuda during the past year.

The information comes in the Bermuda Omnibus Survey, a quarterly survey of 401 residents conducted by Total Marketing and Communications (TMC) Limited in association with its Canadian affiliate Corporate Research Associates Inc.

The latest survey was conducted between September 30 and October 6 and residents were asked their opinion on the status of labour relations then compared to a year ago.

A TMC spokesman said: "There is no consensus among Bermuda residents that labour relations has changed in the past year.

"Half of residents, 51 percent, consider labour relations today to be about the same as this time last year, and few feel strongly that labour relations has changed either way.

"One-quarter believe the Island's labour relations have changed somewhat -- 21 percent, or much worse -- five percent, while two in ten consider it to be much -- five percent, or somewhat better -- 14 percent.

"The remainder say it would depend -- one percent, or have no clear opinion either way -- three percent,'' the survey noted.

"These results suggest that labour relations is not, at this time, a highly charged issue in Bermuda.'' A spokesman pointed out that while the opinions expressed were generally consistent throughout the population, there were some notable differences.

"Residents with lower household income are more optimistic about the Island's current labour relations and black residents are more than twice as likely as white residents to consider labour relations to be better today than this time last year -- 25 percent versus 11 percent.'' It should be noted, continued the spokesman, that a random sample of this size drawn from the population can be considered accurate to within plus or minus 4.9 percent in 95 out of a 100 cases.

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