Customs officers had talks with Government yesterday but their Public Services Union was tight-lipped over progress.

Disgruntled customs officers abandoned their posts at the airport earlier this week after earlier issuing a 21-day strike notice.

Newly-elected Bermuda Public Services Union President Armell Thomas said: ?They met this morning with the labour department, that?s all I can say.?

He said further talks were scheduled. Pent-up anger over the overtime, the use of part-timers and overbearing management styles led to the walk out at customs has learned from sources close to the dispute.

Staff are frustrated temporary staff are being used to man the arrivals booths at the airport after the jobs were supposed to go to customs officers after immigration officers were removed a few years back.

Senior management numbers at the airport have become depleted while staff are frustrated part-timers are being used as a way of avoiding paying overtime, said one source.

And clerical staff have been forced to work into the early hours doing imputing for a new computer system.