Trade unions will not find the new PLP Government a pushover, Premier Jennifer Smith warned a trade union dinner at the weekend.

But she added a new atmosphere of trust could mean fewer disputes and strikes in the future -- but insisted workers had to play their part.

Ms Smith told the BIU's Labour Day banquet: "Honest labour requires honest pay -- and in the new Bermuda, honest pay also depends on an honest day's work.'' And -- with the banquet's theme being the contribution of senior citizens -- she said older workers understood the need for performance on the job.

But she added: "I fear that some younger workers don't realise that... or the benefit of a stainless reputation.'' She said: "Quality service, dependability, enthusiasm will have to be watchwords for workers who wish to take part in the constructing of a new Bermuda.'' And she pledged to work to remove the "stigma and stereotypes of the past...with respect for one's contribution, regardless of age.'' Ms Smith said challenges facing Bermuda's labour movement as it moves into the new Millennium were different from the past. And she pinpointed health care, flexible working hours to accommodate increasing numbers of women workers with children, workplace childcare, paternity leave and more opportunities for learning on the job because of the rapid rate of technological change as priorities.

Ms Smith said that the industrial revolution opened doors for women and workers adapted to mass production and learned new skills. She added: "Technology can't be stopped, nor should it be. Time has shown that people not only learn to accept technology, but soon they can't live without it.'' Ms Smith admitted: "I don't pretend to know all the answers, but I know where I'd like to begin -- we are all Bermudians and we're working to obtain the same basic goals.

"We all want happy households, health and reasonable prosperity.'' And Ms Smith took a swing at critics who said there had been too many labour disputes under the new Government.

She said the PLP and the labour movement were like "siblings'' born out of the same struggle for human rights.

Ms Smith said: "I said we were like siblings and just like families, we may disagree and argue without losing our love and respect for each other.'' And she added: "We who are now shouldering the load have not forgotten that our successes are testament to the struggles of others.'' But Ms Smith said workers had to "pursue excellence in the workforce'' and added that "results will only come from hard work''.

Ms Smith -- who won a standing ovation -- told the gathering: "We know that labour relations will improve only with trust.

"I know some who feel that increasing workers' rights is the same as decreasing managements -- that is not so.. .there need not be any quarrel.'' And she said an atmosphere of trust would lead to unions, Government and bosses being able sit down round the table and negotiate in good faith.

Ms Smith added: "Once the foundation is laid, then labour, Government and management can truly begin to build one Bermuda.'' BIU president and PLP MP Derrick Burgess used his spot to thank senior trade unionists, like former president Ottiwell Simmons and the four sent to jail in the wake of the 1965 Bermuda Electric Light Company riots.

But -- in the evening's programme foreword -- he pledged to fight to keep older workers on the job as long as they were able.

Mr. Burgess said: "As a result, we try to dissuade employers from establishing mandatory retirement ages.

"Age is but a number that oftentimes gets in the way of reality. We, as a people, should be embracing our elderly and encouraging them to share their knowledge and experience.

"We can utilise their skills as consultants, as a valuable family resource for assisting in the rearing of our young -- the list goes on.''