Island's biggest union.

As several unions met yesterday to ratify the first Bermuda Trade Union Congress, the Bermuda Industrial Union was absent.

And leaders of the new forum -- which covers around 5,000 members -- said they had no idea why the BIU had snubbed the meeting.

Interim general secretary Michael Charles said the 6,000-member organisation had been invited to join the congress, but he had no idea why they had not attended.

Last night, BIU president Derrick Burgess said he did not want to comment at this time.

Mr. Charles said: "They had been invited, but they are not here. We can't say why they didn't show up.'' But he added that they would work toward bringing the BIU on board in the future.

However, it is understood that the BIU are cautious about committing themselves and thousands of members to an organisation whose aims and intentions are not entirely clear.

A union source said: "I don't think they are quite ready for a TUC. There are some issues to be cleared up first. Too many things have to be sorted out.

"Let's slow down and find out what it is about. We need to ensure that we are not going to join something that is going to make us weaker.'' The BTUC includes the Bermuda Public Services Association, Bermuda Union of Teachers, Prison Officers Association, Fire Service Association and the Police Association.

Mr. Charles said the formation would enable all the members to speak with one voice and to operate as a pressure group for labour issues, protecting the rights of all workers.

"The BTUC will speak with one voice in the future. We would like to have everybody on board at the beginning but you have to start somewhere,'' he said.

"It has been a long time coming, we have been trying to get this underway for the last 20 years.

"Our colleagues in the Caribbean have been after us and have encouraged us to take this route. It has finally come to fruition.'' On labour, economic and social issues, the BTUC will speak for all the unions it represents.

Island labour forms congress But it will not be involved in negotiations over conditions and other specific details.

Each individual union will still deal with employers on labour matters.

"The kind of thing we will be doing, will be on a national level, where one union might not be able to do it, we can come together to make an impact.'' In addition the organisation will get recognition from international trade union organisations and will be able to attend conferences abroad in their own right.

Mr. Charles said the congress would be recognised as they had support of the majority of Bermuda unions.

A management committee, comprising members from each union, has been established, and eventually a leader will be elected.

UNIONS UNS