THE SOUND OF MUSIC stopped yesterday on Broad Street after Government stepped in Tuesday night to negotiate the impasse between The Royal Shop and the Barbados Workers' Union (BWU).

Over the past week, visitors and locals alike had had an earful as they passed the mid-town jewellery store, as 12 workers, fired February 2, clanged cymbals and bottles while singing and marching with placards in protest.

Yesterday, however, it was back to normal with only the buzz of pedestrians as they walked by the store at the centre of the dispute. Few customers stopped in when the NATION was on the scene.

Up until a week ago, the BWU deputy general secretary Robert "Bobby" Morris was on the picket line with a megaphone, chanting words of solidarity.

Eleven employees walked off the job in support of a colleague who was fired for refusing a transfer to the jewellery's store Port location. After failed talks with the store's management, general secretary of the union, Sir Roy Trotman, called a national strike which threatened to close the island down yesterday.

The strike was averted, but talks between the union, The Royal Shop management and Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office with special responsibility for Employment, Labour Relations and the Social Partnership, Arni Walters, continue.

Yesterday, some passers-by said they were happy to see the picket line gone. (TM)