Essential Industries Disputes Board ruled that hoteliers must pay for seven members of the BIU's 19-man negotiating team.

As the hearings into the hotel workers' contract row resumed on Tuesday after a two-week adjournment, BIU president Mr. Ottiwell Simmons claimed his ability to represent them was being "stripped.'' He argued he was at a disadvantage without all the members of his negotiating team who could not be present because hotel employers refused to pay them to be at the hearings.

Mr. Simmons then warned Board chairman Professor Ronald Haughton he might request the hearings take place only when those members are off.

Lawyer for the Hotel Employers of Bermuda, Mr. Stephen Shaw told the Board he felt no obligation to abide by the old collective bargaining agreement, which expired in February, 1991. The agreement allowed for up to seven BIU members to be paid while representing their colleagues in labour negotiations.

Yesterday, in the ruling handed down by Professor Haughton, the hoteliers were ordered to make the payments to the seven members "as a partial resolution of a basic issue.'' "As part of this ruling,'' Professor Haughton said, "it was decided that the 12 additionals be part of the outstanding issue to be decided by the Board after the closing of the hearings and after the presentation of evidence and arguments on the issue.''