Some bus routes have been cancelled today as drivers continue their work to rule in anger at non-payment of back pay.

The action began on Friday and the dispute is set to spill over into other Government industrial sectors in the form of an overtime ban.

The Public Transportation Board (PTB) said last night that buses are set to run as normal however selected bus routes will not operate, including some East End school bus routes.

Bermuda Industrial Union president Derrick Burgess said the new pay deal, which dates back to January 1, 2003, was awarded three months ago but workers were still waiting for back pay.

He said West End Development Corporation workers and Government golf course workers had been paid but around 1,000 Government industrial workers were still waiting.

They had had been told they would get the payment last Friday but that deadline was missed. Now the new date is this Thursday.

Mr. Burgess said: "They had wanted to get it before Christmas."

He said the first chairman of the pay panel was unable to hit that deadline and a Christmas deadline was still missed, even though another chairman was appointed.

He said Labour Minister Randy Horton had done the best he could to sort out the situation.

Mr. Burgess said he didn't know the reason for the delay.

"It looks like somebody has dropped the ball, they have not really put in a concentrated effort to get it on time. It's not rocket science."

Asked if the work to rule would continue until Thursday Mr. Burgess said: "I don't know, I think so."

Other groups of workers still waiting for back pay include ferries and sanitation workers.

"There is a work to rule ? no overtime," said Mr. Burgess.

However he did not know what the affect of that action would be.

Labour Minister Randy Horton said the union had pushed to get the pay for this Wednesday after being told it would come this Friday, but it could not be done in time.

He said staff in the Accountant General's office had worked all weekend to speed the payment which will now be made on Thursday.

"They (the union) are causing workers in Government to be stressed out."

The action would also inconvenience the public said the Minister.

"I have promised they will get their money," said Mr. Horton. "I am disappointed, they have not come through."

Mr. Horton added: "I think maybe it's taken too long to settle the situation but both sides are responsible."

He said the union had yet to sign the agreement and had claimed it was normal to get paid first and then sign the agreement but Mr. Horton said that was not the precedent.

A signing ceremony was set for Friday said Mr. Horton.

However Mr. Burgess said Mr. Horton had been misinformed and the usual practice was for pay from an arbitration award to be paid quickly with the signing of the agreement coming after.

He said the fact staff were working on the pay agreement over the weekend showed that nothing had been done prior.

"It's quite obvious if they are just preparing now then no preparation had been done before that."

He said the workers had been very patient. "They have been waiting for the money for nearly 14 months. We need to point the finger where it should be pointed at, not always at the workers."

He said Mr. Horton should have checked with the Ministry and learned the money had been promised before Christmas. "Here we are nine weeks after Christmas ? it takes that long?" he asked.

Transport Minister Ewart Brown could not say why the workers had not been paid their back pay.

"All I know is the is the transport services have been affected. I don't know the detail or the background," Dr. Brown said.

"I hope the situation can be resolved as soon as possible, that's all I can say.

"We have had enough disruption in transport in the past six to eight months, I wish we could get back to business."

One source told that garbage pick ups in the East End had been affected on Friday.

The PTB promised updates on further developments and apologised in advance for any inconvenience to the public.