The Guardian reported last week how 70 workers at the Mobberley company planned three half-day stoppages from this Friday.

But shop steward Keith Roebuck said yesterday he was hopeful the dispute, over working hours, could be avoided.

"We have had informal talks with the management," he said. "We have got some concessions, but nothing in concrete yet."

He said further meetings were planned to try to resolve the dispute before Friday.

"It doesn't do anyone any good to have industrial action," he said. "We seem to have made some headway."

Graham Boddy, the company's head of human resources, said he too was confident a stike could be avoided.

"We had an excellent meeting yesterday," he said. "We believe that both sides understand what the issues are and I am feeling optimistic."

The 70 workers involved in the dispute are all from the department which coats photographic paper.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.