time missed from work during the industrial action.

And although BTC management have put forward a proposal, both sides are remaining tight-lipped as to how the talks went until the offer has been approved by BIU members later next week.

But The Royal Gazette can reveal that the issue of strike pay -- the main reason for prolonging last week's action -- was never discussed during the talks.

The news is a bitter blow to the BIU leadership who were determined that strike pay would be on the agenda.

On Monday, March 16, about 200 BTC employees went on a march through Hamilton in protest at the suspension of a colleague.

They then took the following three days off work claiming they would not return to their jobs until management had guaranteed that they would be paid for time off during the original walkout.

Union officials only agreed to send their members back to work last Thursday evening after Labour and Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness was drafted in to mediate between the two groups.

In what looked like a massive climbdown it is thought that the union was forced to drop its demands after it was pointed out that the strike had taken place illegally.

According to the union's own constitution, strike action can only take place if it has the support of a majority of the membership. No ballot was organised at any time during last week's impromptu walkout.

Throughout the strike management had offered to hold talks on the suspension and general disciplinary procedure as soon as the workforce returned to duty.

But they insisted that the issue of strike pay was not on the table.

And when the strike was finally called off, stand-in union chief Chris Furbert denied that the return to work was a climbdown, insisting that the issue would be debated.

"I never promised the workers that they would get paid but I did promise that I will fight for it and if it's not on the table at the meeting I will bring it to the table,'' Mr. Furbert told The Royal Gazette on the eve of negotiations.

Talks were `fair' Last night Mr. Furbert refused to say whether he had managed to bring the issue up at the talks and was only prepared to say that they had been "fair''.

"We have something to take back to our members but I cannot divulge what that is,'' he said.

"We will be having a meeting on Tuesday night and I can only discuss it after that.'' But a spokeswoman for BTC confirmed that only the suspension and general disciplinary procedure were discussed.

"The management have put forward a proposal on those two issues alone and it's our understanding that the union is taking it back to the membership on Tuesday. Who knows what will happen next,'' the spokeswoman said.

Last night Mr. Edness also refused to speculate on the outcome of the talks but hinted that they had gone well.

"I am very pleased that the talks were able to take place and that the two parties cooperated to the extent that they did,'' he said.

"We have now come to the position where the union leadership feels it has something to take back to its members and hopefully they will agree with it.

Mr. Edness also said that the setting up of an independent board of inquiry -- which will examine union/management relations and complaints -- was nearing completion.

"Hopefully I should be able to announce who is on the board next week,'' he said.

"You have to find the right people and then see if they are available and all that takes time.'' BUSINESS BUC