A labour dispute at a West End hardware and construction supplier is headed for mediation talks today.

It marks one week since more than a dozen staff at SAL Southampton walked off the job over what they claimed was the threatened dismissal of a garage supervisor.

Wornell Steede, the chief union shop steward, said over the weekend that the issue with the staff member had been taken “off the table”.

But Mr Steede said staff were headed to the Bermuda Industrial Union at 11am today for mediation with SAL management, brokered by the Labour Relations Department.

He added that he had “separated my case” from the rest of the workers’ grievances after management told The Royal Gazette last week that Mr Steede could be terminated for his role in last Monday’s walkout.

He said bringing his job future into the public domain contravened workplace rules, adding: “I encourage people to learn about your rights and protect them.”