employers to stop opening divisions in Bermudian society by constantly knocking the Bermuda Industrial Union. What Mr. Francis appears to be saying is that those who complain about "the union'' appear to have in mind the leadership of the Bermuda Industrial Union but, in fact, wind up knocking the whole membership which is 6,000 of their fellow Bermudians.

We agree with Mr. Francis because we think most Bermudians know and understand the contribution made to Bermuda, to Bermudians and to worker progress by the Bermuda Industrial Union. What Bermudians complain about is not generally the rank and file of the BIU but the leadership which so often seems not to deal in reality. We think it is valid for Mr. Francis to point out that in many instances when people appear to be anti-BIU they are really expressing frustration with the union's leadership.

The huge amounts often demanded by the union leadership in labour negotiations are a case in point to indicate just how people become frustrated. The union often drags negotiations on and on by starting at demands for 50- and 60-percent increases, knowing full well that they are going to settle in single figures. Right now, there are instances where the union members would settle for no increase this year or for a small increase but the union leadership is demanding large increases despite the recession. It is sometimes hard to believe anything that goes on when the leadership is not following the wishes of the membership.

There are companies scrambling to keep people employed and to avoid layoffs.

Those employers will be extremely frustrated if the BIU hierarchy now asks for large increases. That frustration is especially true if the employees understand that things are not good and their employers are trying to save their jobs. This newspaper has constantly urged every effort to avoid layoffs but that is a two-way street, both employer and union have to help. We do not think things are going to get better for some time, maybe not for two or three years. The union leadership, which started by insisting Bermuda's Government had created an international recession, must now become part of a solution. So far union leaders have proceeded as if 1992 were a good year. The leadership must do that not for Bermuda, not for employers, not for itself but for its members and their jobs.

The problem with unrealistic wage gains is that they are only a temporary cash advance for some workers. In the end, they cut down on the number of jobs available because the employer works towards savings by decreasing jobs. They can, of course, also lead to the closure of businesses and a closed business benefits no one and provides no jobs.

In the hard times Bermuda faces no one wants to see people suffer. Employers should take care not to use the recession as an excuse for cheap labour but employees have to take care that their unions do not make unrealistic demands which lead to job losses. The basic aim should be cooperation toward keeping people working. A big pay packet is not much joy if your wife or your son or your brother is out of a job.