to protest the treatment of staff in the housekeeping department.

But the industrial action ended almost as quickly as it began with the Sonesta Beach Hotel employees returning to work an hour later.

A source at the hotel -- who asked not to be named -- said the dispute began at about 9 a.m. and was over problems housekeeping staff were experiencing which included the suspensions of some employees.

He declined to reveal how many people were involved but said the strike ended quickly with Bermuda Industrial Union representatives sitting down to meet with hotel management.

When contacted last night, a second source declined to comment on the specifics of the matter and whether or not they had been resolved.

Sonesta vice-president and general manager Dennis Tucker was unavailable for comment last night.