Negotiations between recycling plant workers and Government will continue today after a work stoppage over the removal of a backlog of recyclables.

More than a dozen workers at the Devon Springs facility downed their tools yesterday morning when Government sent in a Works and Engineering trucks to remove the bottles and tins which had built up due to a mechanical problem with the plant's conveyor belt.

Workers protested the removal of the recyclables since the work helps them get overtime pay.

A Labour Relations Officer with the Ministry of Works and Engineering, including Acting Works Minister Walter Lister and the Bermuda Industrial Union outlined their positions at a meeting yesterday. Negotiations are expected to continue today at 2.30 p.m.

BIU President Derrick Burgess told The Royal Gazette the workers had handled back-up successfully in the past, and knew the necessary precautions which could be taken to prevent the items from becoming a health hazard.

"The workers were doing the best they could under those conditions to keep up," said Mr. Burgess.

"There are certain areas of work in this country where you have overtime and this is one of them. These workers have worked to clear the backlog before and have dealt with the work successfully."

It is understood that private truckers contracted by Works and Engineering were sent in to take the bottles and tins to the Airport dump.

In a Press release sent out yesterday by Government's Department of Communication and Information, the Department of Health recommended that old recyclables be removed from the Recycling Plant to reduce health hazards which exist in the plant. According to the statement, the Ministry has been trying to comply with the requirement for the last several days.

The Press statement said the items need to be moved to an approved dumping area.

The plant, which has ageing facilities, is due to be upgraded in the near future by Government.