Industrial relations between dockworkers and management company bosses were on the rocks yet again last night -- just hours after a temporary settlement between the two sides had been reached.

Dockers had returned to work yesterday morning after walking off the job on Monday afternoon. But last night Bermuda Industrial Union leader Derrick Burgess revealed that a fresh disagreement broke out yesterday afternoon -- and that means workers could stage a fresh sit-out today.

That means unloading of the Bermuda Islander , due in at 6.30 this morning, could be delayed.

Labour Minister Paula Cox seemed to have steered relations between workers and Stevedoring Services management into calmer waters by calling a meeting between the two sides on Tuesday afternoon following Monday's dispute over a suspended worker. Although both sides eventually agreed that the dispute should be settled by a third party at a later date, the ceasefire proved to be short-lived.

The latest confrontation centres around union allegations that management have broken the company's collective agreement.

Last night Mr. Burgess refused to go into detail about the complaint but did say that it was over a promotional matter.

And he added that, until this morning's meeting is over, he could not say whether his members will be working today.

"I can't say too much right now, the fellows will be meeting in the morning to discuss it,'' he said. "But what the management have done is contrary to the collective agreement. I can't say too much but it's about a promotions matter.'' Last night Stevedoring Services president confirmed that several staff members were promoted yesterday but remained adamant that the collective agreement had not been broken.

"Management's rights, as outlined in the collective agreement, have been exercised,'' he said. "Promotions have been made in accordance with the articles of the collective agreement.'' Meanwhile The Royal Gazette can reveal why Monday's action was called -- and how a settlement was finally reached.

About 70 staff walked out on Monday afternoon after one of their colleagues was suspended for a day without pay.

A source close to the dispute confirmed the worker had been suspended for taking a vacation while his department was short staffed. The worker was eventually allowed to go on leave after claiming that his supervisor had already given him prior permission to take the vacation. The supervisor later denied this and the worker was subsequently reprimanded.

New docks dispute looms But, following Tuesday's meeting, workers were advised to return to their posts after the union was forced to recognise the strike was illegal. Labour relations officers pointed out that workers had not followed correct dispute procedures.

Staff agreed to return to work on the condition that procedural discrepancies will be on the agenda at future arbitration talks. They also accepted that they will not be paid for the hours off work while the strike was in progress.

Stevedoring management also agreed to make a concession in a bid to reach a ceasefire. It is understood that the suspended worker will now be paid for the one day he missed off work, although the matter will be examined by an independent body at a later date.

Yesterday afternoon, before the latest dispute had come to light, neither side was prepared to comment on the ceasefire.

Mr. Burgess said: "At this stage the workers are back at work and the whole issue will be sent to either arbitration or a tribunal to hear what problems we're having at the docks and to get a resolution to put something in place that we can both work by.'' Stevedoring Services president Michael Lohan was even more tightlipped, saying only that he was happy that the dispute was over.

Last night Ms Cox could not be contacted to comment on the latest dispute.