disputes board, Government revealed last night.

The referral follows Government's defeat in the courts with the Bermuda Industrial Union.

Appeal judges recently backed the BIU's fight against an order for its assets to be seized and a $100,000-a-day fine for an alleged breach of an injunction demanding an end to illegal striking.

Government had won the order at the height of unrest over the summer's dispute involving the trucking firm.

Last night Labour Minister the Hon. Irving Pearman confirmed he had referred the dispute to the new board, chaired by lawyer Mr. Michael Mello.

The tribunal was set up in the wake of criticism over the Essential Industries Disputes Settlement Board (EIDSB).

The EIDSB, which has been sitting on the drawn-out hotel contract talks, cannot deliver legally enforceable decisions.

Said Mr. Pearman: "The matter is now in the new tribunal's hands, and I don't know when it plans to hear it.''