Bosses must always come clean over how much they can pay staff. That is key to industrial peace in Bermuda, a former Government labour troubleshooter said yesterday.

Mr. Gladstone (Tab) Bassett said employers had to keep workers informed over money.

This was crucial to intelligent discussion over wage deals. "It would assist trade unions and workers in general as to what the state of the economy is,'' said Mr. Bassett.

Mr. Bassett said the 1981 Island-wide industrial turmoil was an industrial relations watershed. It boosted understanding in the workplace, and hammered home to bosses the need to reveal information.

No industrial action since has been comparable, not even recent disputes involving Bermuda Forwarders and hotels.

"I do believe there is a better understanding between people now,'' Mr.

Bassett said.

"People don't necessarily agree with each other, but at least they have some understanding for each other's objectives.'' He added: "There will always be problems from time to time, but I would say 1981 was a pivotal year.'' Mr. Bassett -- the longest serving Government labour relations officer -- retired in April after 15 years.

Entering industrial relations was not a childhood ambition. "It never occurred to me when I was young,'' said the quietly spoken father-of-two.

Music always appeared a more likely career for the young Mr. Bassett, who was born in Friswell's Hill on November 8, 1930.

His father was a pianist, and for a time Mr. Bassett tinkled the ivories.

Drumming, though, was his main love, and he has kept it up for 45 years, playing in the group Red Smith.

After attending the old Central School and Sandys Secondary, Mr. Bassett tried his hand in the construction industry.

In 1958 he joined the Post Office, working his way up from a driver to clerk, supervisor, and operations manager.

While in the Post Office, he joined the Civil Service Association, and became involved with the Labour Advisory Committee. On this committee in the 1960s, Mr. Bassett helped scrutinise Government labour legislation. The committee would then advise Government.

"It was really my first taste of industrial relations,'' the 63-year-old said.

His interest was heightened when he went on a labour relations course in Britain.

In 1978 Mr. Bassett became Government labour relations officer. Just three years later he found himself at the heart of industrial chaos which wracked Bermuda.

With inflation soaring, the Island was hit by wage disputes.

The disputes reached crisis point when the hotels shut down for several days, threatening the tourism industry.

For Mr. Bassett it meant a whirlwind series of meetings with bosses and trade unionists.

"We would meet anywhere, at Government offices, at the Bermuda Industrial Union, or with employers.'' He was helped by Mr. Ken Richardson, then permanent secretary of the Ministry of Labour. Labour Minister was the Hon. Sir John Swan, now Bermuda's Premier.

Mr. Bassett said a new consciousness emerged from the dispute, which was quickly settled.

"I believe it was a time when people realised the importance of working together to reach an agreement.

"We ended the dispute quickly. The union got what they thought was a fair wage settlement.'' Mr. Bassett said his role had been to get two parties to talk to each other.

"People often don't talk. It's like a husband and wife. Every time they see each other they want to fight.

"It is necessary to create the type of atmosphere where they both can talk.'' He added: "The lesson learned from 1981 was that it was realised that people expected to see everything up front from that time on.

"It was seen as important to reveal information to the union so they can get a better understanding from employers about the state of business.'' Mr. Bassett said he was involved in two stages of peace-making.

One was conciliation -- trying to get warring parties to talk among themselves.

The other was mediation -- making suggestions to parties about ways forward.

"It is impossible to say how successful I was. No labour relations officer resolves a dispute. The dispute is resolved between the two parties.'' The qualities for successful labour troubleshooting? "Patience, a cool temperament, capacity to listen, and the ability to gain trust,'' said Mr. Bassett.

He added: "Naturally when you're dealing with serious issues things can get explosive. People do lose their temper, but it was important I should never lose mine.'' Mr. Bassett was reluctant to comment on some of the key figures he had dealt with.

Of BIU president Mr. Ottiwell Simmons, for instance, he said: "He is a very nice fellow.

"He has his agenda, and is a tough negotiator. I had no problem with him.'' Mr. Bassett also steered clear of politics, something he has done all his life. Taking sides has never been his way of doing things.

Although a voter, Mr. Bassett politely declined to say which party he puts his cross against. "I wouldn't dare say that,'' he said.

MR. GLADSTONE BASSETT -- `There's a better understanding between people now.'