Hospital have downed tools in a protest over overtime pay.

At press time, the results of marathon talks at the hospital were not known.

It is understood housekeeping staff, including Bermuda Industrial Union members, stopped work shortly after making the morning rounds.

They were protesting the hospital's employing casual workers over the Cup Match holiday.

Casual workers received straight pay compared to regular staff who would have received time-and-a-half pay on Thursday and double pay on Friday.

Negotiations were ongoing throughout the day and into the night, with BIU and the hospital's Human Resources department locked in talks.

On July 13 the union and the hospital settled a 12-hour sit-in among housekeeping, dietary, laundry, and maintenance department workers over overtime and job vacancies.

At that time it was agreed that overtime work will be determined in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement -- with overtime being offered to full-time personnel first.

HOSPITAL HOS