A two-week work-to-rule campaign by Works and Engineering trash collectors -- members of the Bermuda Industrial Union -- could spread to other Government departments, it has been learned.

The move is being considered as retaliation for Government's use of scab labour, which was called in over the weekend to collect garbage along some Warwick and Paget streets, and to put more pressure on Government to agree on a 1997 wage schedule, a union source yesterday told The Royal Gazette .

Expanding the campaign is expected to be one of the items on the table when shop stewards from Works and Engineering, Marine and Ports, Agriculture and Fisheries and the Ministry of Health meet tonight with union President Derrick Burgess, said the member, who wished to remain anonymous.

Works and engineering garbage crews "were p***ed -- to put it mildly'' when they learned outside workers from Talbot Enterprises had been used to remove uncollected trash on Saturday from South Road, Longford Hill, Frith Estate and Spice Hill Road in Warwick and Mission and South Roads in Paget, said the source. Henry Talbot of Talbot Enterprises, however, told The Royal Gazette he did not know if his workers were on the job over the weekend and said he had no comment on the matter.

Last Friday Government Information Services spokesperson Valerie Pethen issued a press release apologising to residents for the delays and said it appeared they were caused by the union's work-to-rule campaign, though Government had not been formally notified such a campaign was in effect.

She yesterday indicated the matter was now in mediation and could not comment further.

It was the second time in as many weeks that residents had been left without trash collection. Late last week organisers of an Ord Road clean-up were told Works and Engineering would be unable to honour an earlier commitment to collect their trash.

"Works and Engineering gave us a call and told us because workers were working to rule they couldn't bring any trucks out,'' resident Richard Powell said.

"Interestingly enough one Works and Engineering truck did show up.'' GOVERNMENT GVT TRASH TSH