confusion.

The sight of placard-waving pickets outside hotels was familiar enough.

So too regular news broadcasts about another strike hitting the Island.

But many people were left scratching their heads, and wondering: What's it all about this time? For those who have lost the drift of the ongoing Bermuda Industrial Union-Hotel Employers of Bermuda saga, here is a thumbnail sketch.

The dispute revolves on two issues: Some 3,000 unionised hotel workers claim their bosses owe them tips' increases of 25 cents a day for February 25 1992-February 24 1993 -- something denied by employers; and BIU officials are furious hotel chiefs have not signed a contract, or collective bargaining agreement, with them.

The standoff between the BIU and hoteliers has dragged on for four years, with increasing bitterness.

On the first issue, the union and the HEB have been before a Government disputes tribunal three times.

The Essential Industries Disputes Settlement Board ruled on it first in January 14, 1993, along with a new wages deal.

But a row over the judgement's ambiguous wording on 1992 gratuities -- tips built into hotel bills -- led to another EIDSB hearing in August 1993.

Did the ruling say hotel workers should receive the tips' increases, or didn't it? The EIDSB's second stab at the issue, however, failed to clear up the confusion.

The board stated it would not change the language of its first judgement, declaring: "The award of January 14 stands as written.'' This April, arbitrator Mr. Arnold Zack chaired the EIDSB for its third sitting on the issue.

It ruled hotels were entitled to keep increased tips for 1992, thus endorsing its previous findings.

"There has to be a point where these repetitive appeals come to an end,'' the judgement said.

BIU president Mr. Ottiwell Simmons, however, complained of a "gross error'' in this latest ruling.

He said hotel workers were owed more than $1 million in lost tips.

And he rubbished claims the first two EIDSB rulings went against the union.

His interpretation was that workers were given entitlement to 1992 gratuities.

On the second issue, the HEB and BIU have not had a contract for four years.

The Island's small hotels refused to sign a contract based on the January 14, 1993 EIDSB award.

Aside from the gratuities wrangle, this award provided a settlement up to February 1995, with modest wage rises.

HEB executive director Mr. John Harvey said all hotels were willing to abide by the terms of the contract.

But employers -- especially from small hotels -- had problems with clauses in the Labour Relations Amendment Act 1991.

These clauses meant HEB hotels would be bound to the new collective agreement forever -- or until another contract was signed.

The hoteliers' stance dismayed Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan.

He called on both parties in the dispute to "live up to the spirit and letter'' of the EIDSB's recommendations.

Bermuda's large hotels have expressed willingness to sign the contract.

Although the flashpoint for the latest strike has been the row over gratuities and a contract, the two sides have clashed repeatedly on other issues.

These include decisions by some hotels -- notably Grotto Bay, Palm Reef, Mermaid Beach and Pink Beach Club -- to split from the BIU.