A trade union law opposed by the Progressive Labour Party when it was the Opposition is to be introduced in the wake of the failure of a Government bill extending union rights to managers, it has been revealed.

The Trade Union Amendment Act passed under the former United Bermuda Party Government in 1998 and received assent but was never formally brought into operation.

It was opposed by the PLP because it excluded managers from establishing collective bargaining units under a trade union umbrella.

However the PLP Government's Trade Union Amendment Bill 1999, which gave managers the same rights as blue-collar workers, was blocked by Senate last year.

Speaking in the House of Assembly on Friday, Home Affairs Minister Paula Cox told MPs: "Since that time I have been considering possible areas of compromise which would make the 1999 bill more generally acceptable.

"I am confident that, through further consultation with the various stake holders, it will be possible to achieve this, but it is unlikely that amendments will be presented to this House in the immediate future.'' Senate can block any non-financial bill for up to a year, unless the Government of the day decides to amend it to take account of Senators' concerns and try again.

But Ms Cox said: "I continue to remain gravely concerned about the number of industrial disputes which continue to have their roots in recognition issues.

"I have therefore concluded that, pending a successful resolution to the issues surrounding the inclusion of management persons in the 1999 Act's statutory recognition regime, it is important to safeguard the interests of other workers.'' Ms Cox said: "In making this decision I am conscious that some may question the rationale for making operative an Act which this Government opposed so strongly while in Opposition.

"However, it is important to provide workers with the statutory right to select a union to represent them for collective bargaining purposes when the majority of workers in an entity wish that to happen.'' And she added: "It is not best practice in labour relations for employers to choose to ignore the wishes of workers when the majority of the work force in a particular entity wish to join a trade union and to have that union represent them for collective bargaining purposes.'' Ms Cox added that her decision on the 1998 law -- which will come into force at the start of next month -- had been backed in a letter from the Bermuda Employers' Council.

UNIONS UNS