support staff ended late last night when union officials and the hospital's management reached agreement on overtime and job vacancies.

Officials said a range of other issues still need to be negotiated, but last night's agreement, hammered out after four hours of talks, has settled four "priority'' issues.

The workers, who included Bermuda Indusrial Union members in the dietary, laundry, environmental services and maintenance departments, started the sit-in in the staff cafeteria at 9.30 a.m. and left at 9.35 p.m.

They are expected to return to work tomorrow, dispelling fears of a full-blown strike.

Hospitals Board executive director Sheila Manderson said all other issues had also been discussed, but four key issues were selected as priorities and were negotiated and resolved.

She said that it was agreed that starting today, there will be meetings to resolve the remaining issues.

The four priority issues were resolved as follows: The 17 hour shift that staff were working at community mental homes has been discontinued; Overtime work will be determined in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement, with overtime being offered to full time personnel first; Within 30 days of a position becoming vacant, the Human Resources Department of the hospital will make a decision to discontinue the post or to find a replacement in which case the vacancy will be posted; and There will be no temporary positions lasting longer than six months. After the six months, the position will be discontinued or made permanent.

BIU general secretary Molly Burgess said she was glad that these four main concerns had been resolved and that there was agreement to work to get the other issues dealt with.

She said that they were all "pressing issues'' which needed to be resolved as quickly as possible.

She refused to reveal what they were, but it is understood there are still several outstanding, including broken washing machines in the laundry and "dangerous'' stoves in the kitchen.

In the morning, workers in the cafteria were told: "Don't worry about your job, your job is safe''.

And throughout the day the workers in the cafeteria sang songs and shouts of "We will not be moved'' and "United we stand divided we fall'' were heard.

Priority: Sheila Manderson