Housekeeping workers at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital returned to work yesterday after downing tools a day earlier to protest overtime pay.

Negotiations between the Bermuda Industrial Union and the hospital's Human Resources department lasted well into Monday evening.

The housekeepers stopped work shortly after making the morning rounds to protest the hospital's hiring of casual workers over the Cup Match holiday.

Casual workers received straight pay compared to regular staff who would have received time-and-a-half pay on Thursday and double pay on Friday.

On July 13 the union and the hospital settled a 12-hour sit-in among housekeeping, dietary, laundry, and maintenance department workers over overtime and job vacancies.

At that time it was agreed that overtime work will be determined in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement -- with overtime being offered to full-time personnel first.

Acting spokesperson for the hospital Ianthia Simmons-Wade said yesterday the dispute had been settled.

"The issues have been resolved and the workers are back to work,'' she said.

"At this time hospital management and the BIU will continue to monitor the issues to ensure that both parties abide by the collective agreement.'' There was no disruption to the service provided for patients on Monday, Mrs.

Wade said, adding: "The patients always come first.

"When situations like this arise the managers kick in,'' she said. "While everything doesn't get done the most important things would be completed.''