has pushed the point a bit too far, but there's near unanimous support for the principals behind the walkout.

In a street survey undertaken by The Royal Gazette , most people agreed employees in any workplace should be accorded the right to vote to be represented by a union, though not all people agreed a wildcat strike was the best way to get the message across.

The principal of freedom to choose union representation has become a flashpoint in a confrontation between Bermuda labour and entrepreneur Stephen Thomson, precipitating a battle that has spilled onto streets across the Island and for the past three days and has disrupted essential services such as bus and ferry transportation.

"I believe everybody should have the right to choose if they want to to belong to a union or not,'' Robin Tucker, a corporate administrator at the law firm of Conyers, Dill & Pearman said.

Warwick's Elsie O'Toole agreed. "Absolutely; people have the right to choose.

"I tell you I listened to the news on the radio and waited to read the paper this morning to try and understand this. But as I speak I still don't understand (why they've walked out.) All I know is it's a free country and people have the right to voice their opinions.

"I think Government should've looked after it before it came to this because now our visitors are the ones who are paying for it. Government must have known they were going to have to deal with it eventually, but they let it go this far,'' she said.

St. George's musician and taxi driver Peter Harris said the union was seeking basic rights.

"I'm not too familiar with issues such as these, but they have the right.

It's as simple as that. I guess it's a question of majority vote rules, whether it's an election or a union.'' Bermudian-born Troy Todd, now a resident of Atlanta, Georgia, has only been on the Island two days but has been following the wildcat strike closely.

"Most definitely (people have the right to vote to belong to a union). You've got to have representation because a lot of times the employer will try to take advantage.

"That's happened in America, the unions there have almost all been busted and what we've seen is a decrease in salaries; all the while the rich keep getting richer.

"If you have strong union you always have better working conditions and things like benefits. The worker needs someone strong to speak for them.

William Boyle, best known as the Mayor of Hamilton but speaking on the record as the President of WJ Boyle and Sons, agreed employees should have the right to vote for union representation.

"But it's a two-way street. Employees should have the right to vote for (union) certification and also the right to vote for de-certification.

"It's what the majority of employees want. But I think a secret ballot is necessary, with no intimidation by anyone. It's just too bad everything they're (BIU) is doing is illegal,'' said Mr. Boyle.

The strike however has not paralysed City of Hamilton operations he said.

"With the buses out it's only tied up traffic a little bit.'' Thirty-five-year-old A. Ridgeway swam counter to the current of popular opinion, telling The Royal Gazette : "If you've accepted a job at a particular place and it's non-union, then it's up to the employer to decide.

"Why it should all of a sudden change, I don't understand,'' said the Smith's Parish accountant.

"Incidently, they didn't pick up my garbage this morning.'' William Boyle Peter Harris Elsie O'Toole Troy Todd Robin Tucker