the deadline for renewing a crucial hotels contract loomed.

That was the claim yesterday of Mr. Dennis Tucker, president of the Hotel Employers of Bermuda.

He said the HEB were amazed by the Bermuda Industrial Union's attitude just before the 1991 collective bargaining agreement expired.

"We were very surprised by their lack of urgency,'' said Mr. Tucker, also vice-president and manager of Sonesta Beach Hotel.

He claimed BIU president Mr. Ottiwell Simmons, MP, was off the Island as "D day'' arrived.

And he recalled a half-hour meeting between management and union officials.

The union side seemed keener on going to a soccer match at St. George's than talking, he claimed.

Mr. Tucker was speaking at yesterday's sitting of the Essential Industries Disputes Settlement Board.

He was the first witness to give evidence during the four-day-old hearing at Cathedral Hall.

The BIU and HEB have locked horns over working out a wages and benefits deal.

Their last collective agreement expired on February 24, 1991.

Although the HEB implemented wage rises for 1991 in line with Government mediator William Hobgood's award, these have not been accepted by the union.

Yesterday HEB lawyer Mr. Stephen Shawe took his witness, Mr. Tucker, through the period leading up to the expiry of the last contract.

He questioned Mr. Tucker about several letters from the HEB to Mr. Simmons.

One of them, dated October 18, 1990, outlined the HEB's anxiety at the American economy, and its knock-on effects in Bermuda.

The future of the hotel industry looked bleak, with low hotel occupancy levels, the letter continued.

It appealed for a pulling together in time for the coming tourism season.

And it also called for the existing collective agreement to be extended through to November, 1991.

Asked about a reference in the letter to "turmoil in the market place,'' Mr.

Tucker said negotiations between the HEB and BIU were always heated.

The local press heavily recorded the acrimony, which was then picked up by travel and trade publications, said Mr. Tucker.

This had given Bermuda a reputation for continuous industrial strife.

"We were during this particular time very concerned that a recession was taking its bite,'' said Mr. Tucker.

Another letter, dated November 21, 1990, again voiced management worries about the hotel industry.

"Our projections were not looking very favourable for 1991,'' explained Mr.

Tucker.

Mr. Tucker said the HEB wanted to instil a sense of urgency in the BIU.

But the union failed to respond to any of the correspondence, and appeared contemptuous.

Mr. Tucker also accused the union of sticking to "exorbitant'' salary and benefit demands in the face of world events, including the Gulf War.

The hearing was adjourned until May 26.