United States Naval Air Station over treatment of its members.

At a meeting this week BIU officials were told that some local employees at the Base had been told to change from full-time to casual labour or resign.

And the union claims the US Navy is simply seeking a way to deprive Bermudians of benefits and severence pay if the two Island bases close down.

The BIU is demanding a meeting with Director of Civilian Personnel at the US NAS, Mrs. Ida Williams, and it has approached base commander Capt. Jim Arnold.

It claims the USNAS has already failed to comply with regulations which say they must abide by local customs and practices.

In a September letter from the Morale, Welfare and Recreation Department, one union member was told: "This letter is to notify you that your employment category will be changed from regular full time to a flexible work schedule.

"Since the action will cause you to lose base pay and benefits, you may elect to resign in lieu of your change of employment category.'' The Bermudian workers were offered seven days to fight the change and told the change was necessary because of a decrease in requirements for the services.

In another case a worker at the Eatery on the Base was made redundant after 32 years. Union Organiser Mr. Robert Johnston said that he was astonished to hear she failed to qualify for severance or redundancy pay because she had changed to "intermittent employment'' in February 1991. The Base blamed the decision on a tenant organisation which ran the Eatery.

Now Mr. Johnston fears that if either of the two US Navy bases are closed down other union members will be forced to give up benefits and severance pay.

He said: "This reduces people to intermittent or flexible work, which is basically causal labour.

"The US NAS proper, paid from Congress funds, are required to abide by local customs and practices. And so are their tenant organisations.

"We will be bringing all these matters up at the meeting which we expect to take place on Tuesday.'' At the meeting at BIU headquarters this week, Mr. Johnston said members expressed fear over their future because of the rumoured April closure of the Naval Annex.

"People want to know whether they are going to be transferred or whether they are going to be made redundant,'' he said. "It is difficult talking to the Navy. Once they tell you they have to refer it back to the United States that is the end of it.'' The Base had no comment when contacted by The Royal Gazette .