The head of the Bermuda's biggest union yesterday said foreign management was at the heart of worsening labour relations.

"The relationship with the Telephone Company has certainly deteriorated since we've had foreign management there,'' BIU president Derrick Burgess said yesterday.

"At one time, Bermuda and this union used to marvel at the good relationship we had at the Telephone Company... when the company was run by Bermudians.

"Since that has changed, everything has changed.'' Mr. Burgess made the comments after a meeting was held yesterday to "get the workers up to date on the talks'' to settle a two-year contract for Bermuda Telephone Company workers.

The current agreement expired in January and negotiations were already far behind schedule, he said.

"But the Telephone Company has for some reason delayed the start of the talks,'' he continued.

"They seem to be stalling the talks and we are hoping to get an agreement before Christmas.

"I don't know why they are doing it.'' Mr. Burgess further charged the telecommunications company with failing to heed recommendations created by a team of experts earlier this year.

"In fact we had a Board of Inquiry this year,'' he said. "The recommendations came back in July.

"None of the recommendations have been acted upon because things have gotten worse.'' However, last night a BTC spokeswoman said the BIU was partly responsible for bogging down discussions.

"Mr. Burgess is correct in that the start of negotiations were delayed. This was the result of a number of things,'' the spokeswoman told The Royal Gazette .

"Two key factors being the illegal industrial action taken earlier this year and the resulting Board of Inquiry process,'' she continued.

"Ongoing discussion started in December and there is a session scheduled for (this morning).

"We are in fact surprised to hear Mr. Burgess' comments questioning BTC's action on the Board of Inquiry's recommendations.

"As recently as this week he was in attendance at BTC to make his comments to a group working on some of the recommendations.

"We are concerned that the BIU appear to be negotiating through the media.'' Meanwhile an expected disturbance at BTC's annual Christmas party last night did not occur.

The Royal Gazette understands workers were told anyone dressed in company uniform would be forbidden to enter the Oasis Nightclub.

But last night a crowd of workers in official grey trousers, shirts and jackets gathered on Front Street, Pembroke around 6 p.m.

And no-one was turned away when they entered the nightclub en masse.

A BTC spokeswoman declined to comment when asked if any action would be taken against the workers.

BUSINESS BUC