last night staying tight-lipped over a meeting to arrange a union ballot.

Businessman Stephen Thomson and Bermuda Industrial Union president Derrick Burgess met yesterday afternoon -- only days after the issue sparked a wildcat three-day strike which crippled bus, ferry and garbage collection services.

Both Mr. Burgess and Mr. Thomson declined to comment on the progress of the talks.

The row began when Mr. Thomson took over Hamilton Val Cleaners and Paget Dry Cleaners. The two shops had been unionised -- but all employees had been laid off before Mr. Thomson bought the fixtures and fittings.

He later re-employed the former staff -- but under the same conditions in force at his other businesses, Mailboxes Unlimited and Just Shirts, which included a no collective bargaining agreement clause.

The disruption began when dockworkers refused to handle cargo claimed to be associated with Mr. Thomson's businesses -- a claim later denied -- and the dispute spread.

Lawyers for Mr. Thomson pointed out that there was nothing illegal about his actions.

But the businessman last Friday agreed to ballot the two shops, rather than all his businesses. It is understood the two sides will meet again this week.