A pay row involving staff at Universal Electric will go to arbitration, the company revealed yesterday.

Employees returned to work yesterday following their five-day strike — but they are still unhappy at the revised offer put forward by management.

The final offer of a 4.2 percent increase in the first year — up from the original offer of 3.9 percent — was rejected on Friday. Friday's offer had included a 3.9 percent increase in the second year and "a number of additional benefits".

Staff complain the previous year's rise of 3.3 percent, which they accepted, was 0.5 percent below inflation. They add that non-Bermudian workers enjoy more perks.

Ray Beaulne, Universal Electric's general manager, said in a statement yesterday: "We developed an attractive alternative pay package for our unionised employees and on Friday made a revised offer of a 4.2 percent increase in pay in the first year, a 3.9 percent increase in the second year, and a number of additional benefits.

"Regrettably, negotiations reached an impasse and we will be going to arbitration. However, we are pleased that our unionised staff returned to work today. "I would like to thank our valued customers for their patience during last week's strike and we are happy that it's business as usual once again."

Last week's strike followed eight weeks of negotiations between Bermuda Industrial Union and the company, the last seven of which staff claimed to have worked in good faith with an expired collective agreement.