Fourteen Airport-based Customs workers called in sick on the same day because they were angry about staff shortages.

Union leaders and Customs chiefs sat down on Friday to discuss exactly what prompted the protest on the previous Tuesday.

Collector of Customs William LeDrew admitted at first he could not be sure if the workers had staged an unofficial strike.

Representatives from the Bermuda Public Services Association said they had not organised any industrial action.

And Mr. LeDrew, unavailable for comment last night, had his first opportunity to discuss the matter with the workers when they came back on shift yesterday.

The Royal Gazette understands the officers were angry at staff shortages at assistant revenue collector level.

BPSA General Secretary Ed Ball would not discuss details until the union secretariat had met with Mr. LeDrew and the Customs Council, the BPSA's Customs arm.

But he said: "We are awaiting the meeting and that is an important opportunity for all concerned to get to the bottom of this issue.

"We need to effect resolutions with respect to the problems that exist.'' Mr. LeDrew said the final count of officers who called in sick had risen to 14, instead of 13 as originally thought.

But he reminded the public that extra staff were drafted in from Hamilton and St. George's so the Airport's Customs operation could run smoothly.

It is not thought any flights were affected by disruption.

Mr. LeDrew said on Wednesday: "We still cannot be absolutely sure if this was an industrial action.

"We have still to sit down with the staff who called in sick.'' Mr. LeDrew had been due to attend a meeting at the airport on the day of the action, to discuss staff concerns.

He told The Royal Gazette officers had complained about staff shortages and conditions at work, where the baggage hall is still being extensively refitted.

The Airport normally has 28 customs workers on duty. But the 14 "ill'' staff, plus three on long-term leave, depleted the shift.

Mr. LeDrew said he had already written to staff, praising them for working well under "very difficult circumstances''.

And he said conditions were now "much better than they were'', adding that the renovation work would be finished within weeks.

He also said Bermuda's Customs workforce now stood at just two below its full complement of 144 staff.

"We have had some staff shortages and that could be an issue but for the most part they are short-term and we are in the process of bringing in additional temporary staff,'' he said.

"It is certainly not a critical problem.''