refused to work overtime for the second day in a row.

Stevedoring Services workers yesterday refused to work overtime after their normal day finished at 4.30 p.m. -- leaving the Somers Isles and Argosy to be unloaded during regular hours.

Their actions followed a similar situation on Sunday, when management had to tie up the two vessels after workers refused to come in for overtime shifts.

Unloading on Sunday was called off because of the poor weather but started yesterday and continues today.

Bermuda Industrial Union officials insist the workers are doing nothing illegal but it is understood the refusal to work overtime is part of unofficial action on the part of individual workers.

It followed the lifting of an overtime ban by the portworkers division of the Bermuda Industrial Union last week, after disagreements over overtime call-out payments.

Yesterday, a Stevedoring Services spokesman said workers had refused to do overtime, as requested by management.

The company is now investigating what steps it can now take with regard to legal action and disciplinary measures against the employees.

BIU president Derrick Burgess said the matter could easily be sorted out if the company would negotiate on the issue, which he said had been going on for 25 years.

"They (the workers) are not breaching the agreement,'' he said. "The agreement is quite clear, if they do not want to work overtime they have to inform their employer two hours prior to the start of the work that they can't make it.

"Overtime is not compulsory and they are working their normal hours.'' "I hope we can resolve this,'' said Mr. Burgess. "Sometimes you have to stand up for principles. If you don't stand up they take everything from you.''