Union leaders and KFC management have agreed to further talks to try and solve a dispute over a cancelled labour agreement, both parties said in a joint statement on Friday.The Bermuda Industrial Union had accused KFC of cancelling a collective bargaining agreement with the BIU and had marched on the Queen Street business in protest earlier last week.It was thought that the case could go to arbitration, but the statement said both sides were committed to talks in the New Year. It also said that neither side would be making further comments.The statement, released by BIU President Chris Furbert and KFC Director Jason Benevides, said: “Further to recent public statements by both parties, Kentucky Fried Chicken (Bermuda) Limited and the Bermuda Industrial Union wish to advise that following recent meetings between senior representatives of KFC and the BIU an agreement has been reached that both parties will commit to engage in significant discussions about outstanding labour relation matters during early January 2012.“The parties have committed that those discussions will continue through at least January 16, 2012, unless resolution to outstanding matters is reached sooner. The Department of Labour has agreed to provide facilitation services for such discussions as the parties require.“While there remain significant differences of opinion between KFC and the BIU on certain matters, both parties believe that it is in the best interest of the labour relations process that every effort is made to resolve disagreements through a process of private, direct, and frank discussion between the parties.“Therefore, both KFC and the BIU have agreed to enter a quiet period while discussions are ongoing through at least January 16, 2012, and refrain from any new public statements or media releases during that time.“Both Kentucky Fried Chicken (Bermuda) Limited and the Bermuda Industrial Union extend wishes for a very Merry Christmas to all of Bermuda and look forward to a productive New Year.”