An end to a row over full union rights for hotel managers could be in sight, The Royal Gazette can reveal.

For Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Maxwell Burgess is considering a compromise solution for the group -- banned from a new law guaranteeing workplace ballots on union recognition and recognition.

Now Mr. Burgess could opt to allow management to join a separate union from the rank and file -- or even set up their own.

He said: "Managers are either managers or they're not -- but I propose to tackle this issue of greater inclusion.

"We can't have this group thinking they don't have a home.'' Mr. Burgess confirmed he was looking at offering an olive branch to middle managers -- some of whom, especially in the hotel sector, were furious at being left out of last year's Trade Union Amendment Act.

He said: "I am considering giving middle managers the right to be represented by a separate union.

"There is a lot of potential for the creation of alternative solutions to this problem.'' But last night BIU leader Derrick Burgess rejected the possibility of a two-union deal for managers.

He said: "He can't do that -- he's discriminating against the BIU and the workers have the right to join any union of their choice.'' He added: "It's not acceptable. It's against the right of freedom of association.'' The union boss and PLP Hamilton East candidate said the International Labour Organisation was waiting on an outline of the legislation from Government and the reasons behind it.

He added: "We've already told Government that the managers would be represented by a different bargaining unit.'' The middle managers were left out of the new law amid fears over a clash of loyalties if they opted to join the Bermuda Industrial Union -- the union which represents workers lower down the scale -- as they could end up involved in negotiations on behalf of company owners with their own union.

The Act allows baseline workers to vote on whether they wish to be represented by a union or not.

It can also be used by workers to change loyalty from one union to another.

But middle managers -- while being allowed to be union members on an individual basis -- were barred from the right to use a union for collective bargaining.

The Act was recently officially signed into law by Governor Thorold Masefield -- despite claims by union leaders that it broke conventions set by the ILO and the Bermuda Constitution guarantee of freedom of association.

And they pointed out that the Act protected the position of managers already represented by a collective bargaining unit.

Hotel Employers of Bermuda chief John Harvey declined to comment until it was discussed by the Labour Advisory Council.

But he appeared not to rule out hotel owners backing any proposal for a different union for their managers.

Mr. Harvey said: "We made a very strong argument for the reasons why our management people ought not to join at least the same union as the other workers. That position will not change.'' GOVERNMENT GVT