A war of words between Government and a union escalated yesterday as Health Minister Nelson Bascome accused a union leader of 'an incredibly irresponsible display of leadership'.

On Thursday the BPSU called a news conference to express its concern about a lack of communication over a decision to automate the Government's Health Insurance Plan (HIP) Department.

But in a statement to the House of Assembly yesterday, Health Minister Nelson Bascome called the attacks from the union over automation "bizarre" and reiterated the fact that no jobs would be lost in the HIP department.

However BPSU general secretary Ed Ball Jr. again reiterated his concern that instead of a senior civil servant writing or meeting with the union when the final decision was made they had to hear it from their members.

He said: "The senior civil servant has to come back to the union on the final (decision). According to the Collective agreement article 27, between the BPSU and the Government advance notice lays out the proceedings that must be used for anything that effects the working conditions of the employees.

"The BPSU has been consistent in asking the civil servant if a decision has been made concerning HIP.

"I can categorically state there has been no written documentation nor have we been told by the civil servant what the decision has been.

"The only people who were told were the section head informing his workers. This whole thing stands on communication or miscommunication.

"It's important that the structure works. Let's get back to protocols. They had my request for an update in May of this year.

"The final decision has not been communicated. We didn't know what it means. The whole idea of consultation is to express ideas. If it's not done we don't know what that means."

The lack of transparency and communication, according to Mr. Ball leads to just more confusion and upset among their members.

These members had met with the BPSU on Wednesday night to express their concerns, which led to the news conference on Thursday afternoon.

In the news conference BPSU president Armell Thomas and Mr. Ball both expressed their exasperation with the Government's handling of the unions.

And Mr. Thomas had said "Demonstrations have been going on for some time. What is the Government looking for from us? If it's war, I will give them war. It's going to be really nasty. Enough is enough."

In response to these words and the concern about HIP, Mr. Bascome said in his statement to the House, which was read on his behalf by Environment Minister El James, that the union was ignoring the meeting held in February and were causing more upset in the HIP department.

He said: "In an unparalleled and wanton disregard for the peace of mind of those public officers within the HIP office the people of Bermuda endured a bizarre attack levelled by the president of the Bermuda Public Services Union.

"This frenzied commentary, culminating in a "declaration of war" against this Government was an incredibly irresponsible display of leadership by a union official in this country.

"The truth of this matter is as follows. The Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Health, the Director of Social Insurance and the Assistant Director within the Insurance section met with the BPSU in February of this year and provided them with an update on the planned automation of HIP.

"At that meeting it was confirmed that HIP employs eight permanent staff and fifteen temporary employees on six-month contracts.

"Also at the meeting, the Union was advised of the plan to outsource the processing of claims and confirmed that this did not cause them any concern as it would not impact the permanent staff of the department.

"That plan has not changed since we discussed it in February and it is a mystery to me and I venture to say to the people of Bermuda why the president of the Union which agreed to this plan would in July use it as reason to 'declare war' on the Government."

Mr. Bascome said the automation would require the permanent staff to remain in their position and there could be a possible increase in the numbers.