dispute on overtime.

The problem arose at the weekend when Bermuda Industrial Union ports division workers banned overtime on the vessel The Oleander .

Workers claim that they are often asked to do overtime unloading the ship several days in advance and then have the offer revoked at the eleventh hour.

BIU ports division organiser Chris Furbert said: "Workers need to have some organisation to their lives and it's no good going home on a Friday thinking you'll be doing overtime on Monday evening and then, on Monday afternoon, getting told that there isn't any overtime.

"This problem only comes up with the Oleander and the ban doesn't apply to other ships. We understand that the port has to run on overtime but at the same time it is voluntary. But we've done everything by the book -- I would hate to see a court make the judgment that overtime is mandatory.'' But management company Stevedoring Services claim they could be sued by the ship's agents for discrimination if workers are prepared to work extra hours on other vessels.

Both camps hope to have discussions this week to settle the issue.