WORKERS AT THE NATION PUBLISHING COMPANY returned to work yesterday after walking off the job in protest on Tuesday.

A statement from the office of the Publisher and Chief Executive Officer, Vivian-Anne Gittens, at midday yesterday said the matter had been resolved.

"The employee at the centre of the dispute has been reinstated pending further discussions with the Barbados Workers' Union," the statement said.

On Tuesday, more than 60 employees walked off the job protesting the sacking of pressman Orlando Holder of the Production Department.

Staff from various departments stopped work around 3:15 p.m. after they were summoned to a meeting in the car park of Nation House, Fontabelle, St Michael, by deputy general secretary of the Barbados Workers' Union (BWU), Robert "Bobby" Morris.

Both sides, the NATION and the BWU, levelled accusations of improper industrial relations practices.

Yesterday, Gittens said the company had had "a tradition of productive and harmonious relations with the union throughout its existence and I am confident that such relations will continue".

Morris said last night he was very pleased with "the very rapid resolution of the dispute", which he added was to be credited to the very positive response of the company.

"I expect that the excellent management/employee relations that we have experienced in the past will continue," he said. (RG)