overtime.

Around 61 workers of Stevedoring Services -- who provide docks services to ships at Hamilton -- are taking part in the ban and meetings yesterday to solve the dispute ended without result.

Now management of the company are investigating their legal options with a view to bringing the conflict to a swift conclusion.

In the meantime Stevedoring Services president Michael Lohan said he hoped the matter would be resolved amicably without the need for further action.

They are also ready and willing to go to arbitration over the issue, he added.

But it is understood that the company is ready to stand its ground over the conflict.

The dispute blew up over guaranteed overtime payments during call-outs for workers who are brought in to work on vessels outside of normal hours.

Meetings took place yesterday between the company and Bermuda Industrial Union president Derrick Burgess, but ended without conclusion.

Mr. Burgess last night said the dispute had been reported to labour relations officer Glenn Fubler who would present it to Labour minister Maxwell Burgess.

He added: "To tell the truth arbitration is not necessary. It could be solved easily. It has been custom for 25 years and they need to revert back to it.'' Mr. Burgess said if management wanted to change a part of an agreement it must wait until the contract is up.

"You don't change things in the middle of an agreement,'' he said.