Workers at a Government depot in Devonshire downed tools yesterday morning amid confusion about plans to move a carpentry workshop from there to Bailey's Bay.

Bermuda Industrial Union President Chris Furbert said the Ministry of Works and Engineering agreed to listen to worker's concerns after he visited the Prospect Depot along with Permanent Secretary Derrick Binns, a Labour Relations Officer and other government officials.

The depot is the base for the Ministry's painting and carpentry workforce. Mr. Furbert said the stoppage was sparked when managers took pieces of equipment out of the workshop on Friday and Monday. Between 80 and100 workers from the building section stopped work for around 90 minutes to two hours while talks were underway.

"The staff were not 100 percent sure what was going on," he said. "I guess they felt not enough dialogue and discussion took place."

Mr. Furbert said an agreement had been reached after the discussions, and stressed that the Union had not taken up a position against the move.

"We are going back to the drawing board and we are both going in with open minds," he added.

A Ministry spokesperson said: "The Prospect Depot experienced an interruption of work service. However, the Ministry has advised that any concerns were resolved and workers had resumed their normal daily duties by midday. "

She added: "The Ministry has agreed to work with both the depot workers and the union representatives to assess the proposed move of the carpentry shop."