to meet today By Matthew Taylor and Cathy Stovell Precision-Somers spokesman Roger Russell predicted a resolution by tomorrow to the industrial action dogging the ACE building site.

Mr. Russell sounded upbeat last night as he told The Royal Gazette that management met several times over the weekend. He said he was confident the situation would be resolved imminently.

Last Thursday employees of Precision-Somers protested the sacking of several of their colleagues by picketing and on Friday they were joined by workers from four other companies in a sympathy action.

The workers were let go only a few days after submitting a letter to management for union recognition. The men were told they were fired for leaving work early.

The Bermuda Industrial Union have called an emergency meeting of divisional heads for noon today to discuss the problem but despite that daunting prospect, Mr. Russell was positive.

"I cannot control what they are doing,'' he said last night of the BIU, "but we are staying steadfast on our course. We've been having marathon meetings all weekend and we are all working towards a goal. We met yesterday and today (Sunday) and as soon as we have some news for you, we will certainly tell you.'' He added, "I am cautiously optimistic that this will be over soon. We're coming close and we are definitely closer today than we were yesterday. It could be over Monday but I would think definitely by sometime on Tuesday.

"We want to do the right thing and we want to be seen to be doing the right thing. We want to act responsibly and we have Bermuda's best interest at heart.

"This is a massive project and can set the tone for the future so we have to be very cautious. I can tell you that we will base our decision on facts.'' Meanwhile the UBP's Michael Dunkley voiced his concerns about the dispute saying: "I'm concerned the two groups are at loggerheads.

"I'm not taking sides with either party. We need to have communication and dialogue to make sure a threatening situation doesn't escalate.'' Mr. Dunkley said further action would damage the economy at a time when the tourism trade is slowing down and he called on the Labour Relations Officer to get more involved.

A government spokesman said: "The Labour Relations Officer is still waiting for a reply from Precision Construction. In the meantime Government is looking at the legal ramifications of the current industrial action.'' The escalation followed a Labour Day rally speech last Monday where BIU leader Derrick Burgess, who was off the island over the weekend, had singled out the construction trade as in desperate need of unionisation.

Only a handful of firms are unionised and the BIU claim this is leading to exploitation of workers.

Resolution to dispute predicted Sea-land site Engineer Jean-Marc Colmet said the 30-strong workforce at his company had come out in sympathy with the workers who had been sacked after leaving during the middle of job.

Mr. Colmet told the Gazette : "People here are conscious that they're getting a raw deal over there. They're doing over 70 hours at straight time.'' At the unionised Sea-land workers get time and a half after a eight hour shift for the first two hours. If they work beyond 10 hours then they get double time.

Mr. Colmet added: "SAL concrete is on strike too -- they won't be getting any concrete.'' "I don't know how long the strike will last. '' Joining the Sea-land workers in striking were around six foreign workers at C and T steel fixtures and 10 workers at Southern Pan Services who create the forms into which concrete is poured.

Sea-land's Project Manager Dave Braddock said: "This company is a union company and my guys won't cross a picket line. They are showing their support for their brothers. It's just unfortunate that they've got dragged into the dispute.'' Another source at the site said: "Precision won their contract because they put in a lower bid. And they could do that because they are paying their workers a lower wage. It's a disgrace.''