SACKED workers facing financial hardship are being let down by the Bermuda Industrial Union, it has been claimed.

A former paid-up member is also questioning the financial health of the organisation itself after he discovered that Union accounts have not been filed for six years.

The former Union member, who asked not to be named, spoke out after more than 100 hotel workers lost their jobs at the Wyndham Bermuda Resort earlier this week. Staff claim they were only told about the closure at the last minute and now face more than two months without wages until the resort reopens on April 1.

The BIU met with about 70 of the laid-off staff on Tuesday, and while Union chief Derrick Burgess expressed sympathy with those out of work, he would not confirm if the Union will provide financial aid from its own coffers.

"Any time you lose a job in Bermuda it is a hardship until you find another one," Mr. Burgess told following the meeting.

"For some people, if they lose a week's pay they are in a serious situation and those workers who are laid off for a period of time during the year are always playing catch-up afterwards.

"It is not that easy for a lot of these people because not everyone has a second job to fall back on."

But yesterday the disgruntled former member questioned why the BIU wasn't supporting members with its own funds.

And he said the union was also letting down workers by failing to negotiate better terms for those in the industry.

"If 90 per cent of union funds is being spent on administration and running costs, what's left for workers in times of hardship?" he said.

"The problem we have is that the union staff are being overpaid ? they've been doing so for years.

"Bermuda is going through a crisis ? 33 per cent are working poor in this country yet where's the union?

"A hotel housekeeper might make $20,000 a year ? that puts them below the poverty line but you don't see the union coming out to support them."

"The other problem is that this is not really a labour Government. It might have the word 'labour' in its name but they are not labour people ? they are all lawyers and accountants and they are not the ones who are going to be without a job for the next three months.

"And how can the BIU not file financial accounts for six years? Is it perhaps because this Government lets them?"

Last night Mr. Burgess refused to say if the union would be giving cash handouts to unemployed members.

Accusing the source of being "mischievous", Mr. Burgess said: "We had a meeting on Tuesday with the hotel workers and any questions asked at that meeting were answered," he said.

"The person you spoke to was obviously not at that meeting and I do not need to answer them. But they can come to the union office at any time and take a look at the accounts."

The union is legally bound to submit audited accounts to the Registry General each year. But the most recent accounts filed by the union are dated September 1999.

Yesterday Registrar General Marlene Christopher conceded that there had been several problems with the accounts but that issues were being ironed out.

"Legislation requires that the union accounts are filed in order to protect the interests of the members," Ms Christopher said.

"We have been in contact with the union and are trying to assist them in filing their records.

"At the current time I am aware that the auditor is working on them very diligently and I have been in contact with the auditor to ensure that work is being done.

"There are a number of reasons for the delay but I don't think I am in a position to comment on that ? you will have to speak to the union."