Directors at under-fire power firm Belco are prepared to meet union and government representatives to try to end industrial action at the firm.

A spokesman for Ascendant Group, Belco’s parent company, said the board wanted talks to end a work-to-rule imposed by the Electricity Supply Trade Union after the departure of four members of the management team.

He added: “The board will be reaching out to the ESTU and the Government shortly to agree a mutually convenient time to meet.”

Union workers at Ascendant-owned energy provider Belco imposed a work-to-rule yesterday after four senior staff were either made redundant or resigned.

Michael Daniel, Ascendant’s chief strategic development officer, and Carol Ross-DeSilva, vice-president for organisational excellence, were made redundant and Denton Williams, chief operating officer, and Zehena Davis, vice-president of human resources, quit.

The union has demanded the return of the four Bermudian non-unionised staff and the removal of two top managers.

Jason Hayward, the president of the Bermuda Trade Union Congress, accused Ascendant of a “ploy” to remove qualified Bermudians.

Walton Brown, the Minister of Home Affairs, added that he had “grave concern” about the situation.

David Burt, the Premier, said that the ESTU was “justifiably concerned” by management actions that were “simply not in keeping with the community responsibility we expect from the company”.