Workers at Universal Electric will continue to be on strike today after their union claimed no progress had been made in negotiations yesterday.

President of the Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU) Derrick Burgess said the 52 field workers would remain off the site as discussions continued between management, labour relations officer Larry Burgess and himself.

The union boss said last night: "We have not made any progress. I thought we would have done it today, but I don't think we moved on.

"The strike will continue for Wednesday."

The Royal Gazette reported yesterday how the workers had walked off the site in Serpentine Road, Pembroke, after the company failed to meet union demands that the new collective bargaining agreement include a clause giving workers 52 weeks pay should they be made redundant.

Universal Electric wants to offer the workers what the Employment Act states for redundancy pay.

No redundancies are expected, but the additional clause is being discussed as the agreement is being renewed.

Last night, General Manager Ray Beaulne said the company had not received official strike notice from the workers and Universal Electric had proposed another redundancy offer to its unionised workers yesterday.

The manager said the redundancy issue was the only outstanding matter in the bargaining agreement. He said: "Universal has been in full compliance with the collective bargaining agreement and the Employment Act, which clearly outlines our responsibilities relating to redundancy.

"We are asking the union to defer discussions on the introduction of a redundancy article until the full impact of the Unemployment Insurance Act and other external considerations can be resolved.

"In addition, since the introduction of the Employment Act, we have and will continue to comply with the severance allowance clause.

"We also continue to pay into the union-administered Lay-off Allowance Fund, the latter of which we have done for the past 12 years.

"Because we greatly value our employees, we have already made a number of amendments to the collective bargaining agreement in order to provide a working environment that promotes employee training and job satisfaction.

"We look forward to receiving the union's response to our revised offer, which we feel is more than reasonable. In the unlikely event that a resolution is not reached through the facilitation of the labour relations officer, we would be encouraged if the union would agree to arbitration with a view to resolving this matter."

Mr. Beaulne said the company would make every effort to provide services to its customers and assured them that standards would not be compromised.

Customers with queries may call 292-5372.