TALKS to avert a ferry strike that could sever a lifeline to the Western Isles adjourned last night with signs that a deal may be close.
The four-hour talks in Glasgow between managers at Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) and officials from the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) were adjourned until Monday to clarify issues set out yesterday.
Afterwards, Hugh Dan MacLennan, a CalMac spokesman, said the length of the meeting had been encouraging.
The union had issued ballot papers to 450 ratings and shore staff on Thursday over strike action after pay talks broke down last month.
There has been speculation that the ferry company has put a three-year deal to the union, worth around 12 per cent.
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Last week, workers rejected a 2.5 per cent pay increase with the offer of a further 1 per cent based on performance.
The union ordered a strike ballot, saying that it could not accept any element of peformance-related pay as part of the deal on safety grounds.
A strike would affect thousands of islanders and tourists along the vital West Coast links. Around half the fleet of ferries could be affected if industrial action went ahead.