collection slowed, ferry service cut short and sightseeing buses cancelled.

No significant disruption was reported at the two primary targets, the Hamilton docks and the airport cargo area, where the BIU had vowed to handle no goods connected with Bermuda Forwarders.

But no progress was reported in resolving the dispute over 15 Bermuda Forwarders workers who lost their jobs last October. The BIU has vowed to fight until the men are re-hired, but the company has adamantly refused to take them back.

Yesterday, Stevedoring Services managing director Mr. Michael Lohan said work "went on in spite of the weather'', but he would not comment on whether or not there were problems with Bermuda Forwarders cargo. Bermuda Forwarders officials also refused to comment.

However, informed sources said there were some cases of workers refusing to handle Bermuda Forwarders goods or refusing to load the company's trucks. No disciplinary action was immediately taken.

At the airport, BAS general manager Mr. Gene Bean called it "a pretty good day. We've had no incidents so far. We've had no disciplinary problems.'' BIU president Mr. Ottiwell Simmons MP said there was one case at the airport where managers moved Bermuda Forwarders cargo. "I would advise the employers to abandon and isolate Bermuda Forwarders,'' he said.

On Monday night, Mr. Simmons warned that transport-related workers would take "immediate strike action'' if any airport or port worker was disciplined -- by suspension, dismissal, lay-off or court action.

That set the stage for a serious confrontation, with the Labour Ministry, Stevedoring Services and Bermuda Aviation Services all maintaining that the threatened industrial action was "illegal secondary action'' against industries not involved in the dispute.

But the Labour Ministry is not likely to raise the issue of illegality "as long as there is a chance that this matter can be resolved without people going for their guns'', one Government source said last night.

"Everyone is moving around on tip-toe trying to give this a chance to be solved peacefully.'' Labour Minister the Hon. J. Irving Pearman spent several hours meeting with Bermuda Forwarders president Mr. Toby Kempe, and separately with Mr. Simmons and other BIU officials.

"The issues have been explored in depth,'' a Labour Ministry statement said.

"The Minister is disappointed that no resolution appears, at the moment, to be in sight.'' Labour Relations Officer Mr. Gladstone (Tab) Bassett met with management and union leaders at Stevedoring Services to discuss potential problems. A similar meeting is set for the airport today.

"The Ministry will continue to try to assist the parties by acting as intermediary,'' the Labour Ministry statement said, "but ... Government's ability to resolve a dispute between a private employer and a union is limited.'' Mr. Simmons said the union plans to continue its action until the 15 workers are reinstated. A meeting is planned for next Tuesday to "assess the situation and take stronger industrial action if deemed necessary''.

So far, the work-to-rule and overtime ban in other transport-related divisions has had assorted results.

Government tugs were not available for some work in the morning. The last Somerset ferry left Hamilton at 4 p.m. and the last Warwick ferry left at 6.55.

Acting Public Transport Director Mr. Larry Jacobs said 11 charter and sightseeing buses, mainly for cruise ship passengers, were cancelled. Regular bus service was not affected.

Garbage collection fell behind schedule as workers returned to the Pembroke Dump depot for lunch. Works Minister the Hon. Clarence Terceira said residential collection may be cut to once a week if the job dispute continues next week.

Independent MP Mr. Harry Viera yesterday criticised Government for not standing up to the BIU.

He had been reliably informed that less than 150 BIU members, and only six Bermuda Forwarders truckers, were at Monday's meeting.

"Mr. Simmons is a bull looking for a china shop,'' Mr. Viera said. "The pleading begging and appeal to reason has consistently been a resounding failure. The time is now to draft quickly sensible legislation, and not recess the House until such legislation is passed.

"Meanwhile, I ask all Bermudians to help each other with transportation etc., and especially help our tourists to go out of our way in picking them up at bus stops, even at docks with boats. Now if tourists are not able to leave the airport, if this things escalates, I call on the people of this Country to move them. I would personally lead any convoy to do so.''