workers in support of 15 fired Bermuda Forwarders truckers will go ahead next week as planned, union president Mr. Ottiwell Simmons said yesterday.

But Stevedoring Services and ASB/BAS officials say the action is illegal and they will discipline any worker who takes part.

Mr. Simmons responded by threatening "a wave of protest'' if any kind of disciplinary action is taken against workers.

The Bermuda Industrial Union issued a 21-day notice of industrial action to the Labour Ministry on June 1.

The letter said dock workers and ASB/BAS workers would refuse to handle cargo connected in any way to Bermuda Forwarders if the company "continues to `lock out' 15 of its employees, contrary to findings and recommendations of the Board of Inquiry report dated December 30, 1991''.

Labour Minister the Hon. Irving Pearman said he was meeting this morning with BIU officials in a last minute attempt to get them to reconsider.

Mr. Simmons said yesterday the action is expected to take place next Tuesday.

Government's Labour Relations Officer Mr. Gladstone Bassett has informed the BIU it is illegal for them to draw Stevedoring Services and ASB workers into the Bermuda Forwarders dispute because no dispute exists at either company.

"Secondary action is illegal as indicated in Section 34 of the Labour Relations Act 1975,'' he said in a letter to the BIU this month.

Bermuda Forwarders president Mr. Toby Kempe said yesterday there was no way his company would change its stance and take back the sacked workers.

An ASB/BAS official said the company would make "every effort not to take drastic action'' against employees who take part in the planned action.

"We plan to follow disciplinary proceedings as outlined in the collective bargaining agreement,'' the official said.

Said Stevedoring Services managing director Mr. Michael Lohan: "The planned action is illegal. If it occurs, employees will dealt with at that time.'' He said he did not yet know how they would be "dealt with''.