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Overtime ban on city docks lifted

Dockworkers have ended their overtime ban

Workers have lifted their three-week overtime ban after dock and union bosses agreed to go to arbitration to solve the dispute.The Bermuda Industrial Union has announced that the 38 dockworkers will once again be working evenings and weekends as they work towards a resolution with an independent tribunal.The row has centred around the BIU and employer Stevedoring Services arguing over how to eradicate the “non-productive time” of workers due to the reduction in cargo volume.It resulted in workers refusing to offload any shipping containers outside of their usual 37.5-hour week.But BIU president Chris Furbert said the overtime ban had been lifted as the dispute has been referred for settlement by a labour dispute tribunal.He said: “Everyone is in agreement that the best thing to do is go to arbitration. The issue of non-productive time will be looked at”.The arbitration process was finally agreed yesterday morning after continuous discussions between the union, bosses at Stevedoring Services and Government.Peter Aldrich, general manager of Stevedoring Services, said he was pleased the dispute had “at least been temporarily resolved.”