strike action and refusing to answer calls.

Five operators stunned the telephone company's management by holding a sit-in on Tuesday night spurning at least one newly trained staff member -- and bosses were buckling down to prepare for the same action last night.

A BTC spokeswoman said an emergency call had gone out to supervisors and other staff who "rose to the challenge'' and ensured any inconvenience for the public was kept minimal.

She said the operators' grievance was not that their usual overtime payments had been absorbed by the newly trained staff. That was the case in a similar upset seven months ago when experienced staff were angry that new operators were put on the lucrative night shift while they were rostered on the day shift which offered only standard pay.

The telephone operators' latest complaint remains a mystery. It was understood talks were held yesterday to resolve the dispute.

BUSINESS BUC