The dispute between telephone workers and BTC looks set to go into its fourth day today despite an offer by a third party to break deadlocked talks.

The offer was made by Government Labour Relations Officer Glenn Fubler, who contacted the two warring parties yesterday saying he was prepared to act as mediator between the two groups.

He stressed that a meeting could only take place if staff agreed to go back to work and management promised not to take any further disciplinary action against the strikers.

But while BTC management last night confirmed they were prepared to meet the proviso in a bid to get talks moving, BIU acting President Chris Furbert warned that workers would refuse to make any concessions.

Ironically it was the BIU that called in the help of Government after coming under increasing pressure by management to end the dispute.

It is understood that yesterday the BIU received papers from law firm Conyers, Dill and Pearman and BTC management also contacted the Attorney General to make him aware that they considered their workers' action to be unlawful.

Last night Mr. Furbert confirmed that the matter had been referred to the Labour Relations officer on the understanding that it would go before Acting Minister of Labour Wayne Furbert.

But he said the workers were bound to reject Mr. Fubler's proposal because it represented nothing new.

"We will be having a meeting at 8 a.m. but I suspect that staff will just turn this offer down,'' he said.

"The thing is Mr. Fubler is not offering anything new. It's the same offer that management made three days ago. I am prepared to meet with Mr. Fubler and management but the staff will not go back to work until they have assurances that they are going to be paid for the last three days.

"They would like to have a meeting but they are not prepared to go back to work first.'' Union bosses claim that management failed to follow procedure in not giving the suspended worker a verbal or written warning before suspending her.

BTC workers poised to reject `same' offer They argue that workers were therefore entitled to walk out in protest and should be paid for any time missed from their jobs.

BTC Corporate Communications assistant vice president Karla Lacey-Minors, meanwhile, confirmed that BTC management were prepared to go ahead with the talks under Mr. Fubler's conditions.

But she remained adamant that the company's position once talks got under way would not change and that staff could not be expected to be paid when off the job.

"We have consistently stated to the BIU that we want, and encourage, BTC employees to return to work.'' BTC management believe the dispute hinges upon two issues.

First was the non-compliance of the company's grievance procedure and then there was the Union's demand for full pay for the employees who left work on Monday and did not return.

She said: "Proper procedures are in place and must be followed in regard to all disciplinary actions. BTC considers the reaction to the disciplinary action taken to be without merit.

"However, even if it did have merit, the company believes that the reaction and conduct of the BIU executive and members of the BIU/BTC division is unlawful and unwarranted.

"All BTC employees are paid for time worked,'' she continued. "No employee will be paid for time worked if they are in fact off the job and not working.'' Earlier in the day, Acting Labour Minister Wayne Furbert called upon BTC management and workers to reach a resolution amongst themselves.

Mr. Furbert said the BIU had tried to meet with BTC management on Monday and Tuesday without success. A meeting arranged for Monday afternoon had been cancelled at the last minute.

He said the cancellation came because BTC employees did not return to work and the management's position was taken as an ultimatum. If that meeting had been held, he added, the workers could have returned to their job that day.

Negotiations between the union and BTC bosses broke down again.