Labour day is becoming very laboured according to an article in the BIU's mouthpiece The Workers Voice.

Writer Lionel Pearman said it was time to go back to the drawing board after describing this year's celebration as a fiasco.

He said: "Make no mistake, enthusiasm by a great number of people has hit rock bottom since its inception back in 1982.'' He said this year's banquet had started an hour late.

He added that a "guest speaker was less than exciting'' and the Labour Day march has seen a fall in numbers.

He went on: "Then, at the park, the speeches were the usual rhetoric - although well received.

"The food was great, but the entertainment reached an all time low - not so much because of the quality, but rather the quantity.

"I even heard senior citizens, who are probably the most tolerant group, loudly proclaim that they were disappointed. Many of them left the park in disgust.'' "I will not attempt to blame anyone for the fiasco, but the committee needs to do a quick fix to get the celebrations back on track.

"Otherwise a holiday that we fought for will not mean anything to the workers of this country.'' Bermuda Union of Teachers President Anthony Wolffe said; "I thought the turn out was low. We need to try to find out how we can get it back together again.

He said interest may have dropped off because there were no major issues facing the labour movement, adding: "That's a good thing I suppose.'' Bermuda Public Servants Association General Secretary Ed Ball said: "All unions need to stand together in solidarity and fully encompass that. "And the end of the day there is a common goal as Dr. Gordon would have wanted.'' BIU leader Derrick Burgess failed to return calls yesterday.

Former BIU leader Ottiwell Simmons who was away for the Labour Day banquet, said.

"All I can say is that workers of Bermuda are urged to recognise it as their day -- it was a hard fought for public holiday that was given reluctantly by the UBP government.'' He said workers should get involved in Labour Day if it was true that the event was in decline.

Ottiwell Simmons UNIONS UNS NEWSPAPER NJ