strike notice over the breakdown of their contract negotiations.

The disgruntled workers decided on the action after unanimously voting to abide by last Friday's court order barring them from implementing an overtime ban, Bermuda Industrial Union president Mr. Ottiwell Simmons MP said.

Mr. Simmons said the strike notice was in accordance with the 1975 Labour Relations Act.

"We will be issuing it (today),'' he said.

"I think the 21-day notice will give the parties -- perhaps under some pressure -- the opportunity to reach a settlement. Obviously we from the union would prefer a settlement rather than a strike. But it will be if it has to.'' The meeting of unionised Telco workers took place at BIU headquarters after work last night and the strike vote was via secret ballot.

A Supreme Court injunction was obtained by Telco management to nullify its employees' ban on working overtime and thereby keep an "essential service'' from being disrupted.