Bermuda Industrial Union Vice President Chris Furbert is to challenge President Derrick Burgess for the leadership of the 4,000-strong union.

The issue will be put to a delegates conference in March.

Mr. Burgess was reluctant to comment about the challenge and said he didn't want to elaborate on his comments in the Worker's Voice.

He is quoted in the newsletter saying: "This is a democratic organisation and members should always feel free to challenge me or anyone else so long as they meet the requirements laid down in the constitution."

Mr. Furbert was reported as saying: "From my early involvement in the BIU at age 19, my ambition was to be president of the union."

Mr. Burgess has led the BIU since 1996 when he beat Mr. Furbert by just three votes to replace Ottiwell Simmons, who retired after 22 years in the post.

Mr. Burgess and Mr. Furbert were also said to have fought each other for the post of union negotiator in the mid 1990s. That time Mr. Furbert won the day.