a bid to break the deadlock in their contract row.

Government's labour relations officer Mr. Edwin Wilson will also be present.

He will try to bring the two sides together, and further meetings are likely.

The talks follow last month's decision to postpone a hearing before the Essential Industries Disputes Settlement Board.

Yesterday Elbow Beach Development Company managing director Mr. John Jefferis spoke for the first time about the decision.

It was felt a board hearing would be too costly both in "monetary terms and in time''.

"I believe that all other avenues should be explored to the fullest before resorting to the frightening expense of a hearing,'' he said.

Mr. Jefferis, however, said a hearing could not be ruled out.

"At the moment I am adopting a positive attitude. I would say I am more positive than optimistic about a solution.'' Mr. Jefferis said the hotel met last month with the Bermuda Industrial Union.

"It was under the auspices of Mr. Wilson, and the meeting was to set the agenda.

"We are trying to explain what our problems are basically, and we are trying to reach a positive resolution.'' Yesterday BIU president Mr. Ottiwell Simmons and Mr. Wilson were off the Island and unavailable for comment.

The pair have been attending the International Labour Organisation conference in Geneva.

Labour Minister the Hon. Irving Pearman was at the same conference, but returned this week.

Elbow Beach and the BIU have been feuding over a new worker-management contract.

The row led to two days of bitter industrial action, marred by fights in the kitchen and workers being locked out of the hotel.

Elbow Beach threw out the BIU-HEB collective bargaining agreement put forward by Prof. Ronald Haughton after a lengthy hearing.

Instead, the hotel presented workers with its own contract and wages hike.

The disruption ended when management agreed to reinstate the deduction of union dues, one of the main bones of contention.