Union leaders have dismissed any threat of strike over the dismissal of their chairman by Bramco.

Adel Isa claimed last Wednesday that up to 90 Bahraini employees would strike.

Company officials said he was sacked for threatening managers, sleeping on the job, changing locks on company property and using it for personal use.

Isa, who was chairman when sacked earlier this month, claimed he was victimised for standing up for workers.

However, his successor and former deputy chairman Hassan Habib ruled out strike.

'I favour a negotiated settlement for issues. If anyone strikes, it will not have our approval,' he told the GDN. He would not comment on the sacking, but said the company had followed 'due process'.

Isa claimed yesterday the Labour Ministry was 'pressuring' Bramco on taking him back. 'I told the ministry that the management had sacked me unfairly. I will fight in courts to get myself reinstated.'

Human resources manager Syed Mohammed Salman said the ministry summoned officials. 'We have given them all evidence against Isa and paperwork required for his sacking. We will abide by the its decision but still reserve our rights.'

He said as chairman Isa had stopped dialogue between the management and the union, leading to a lot of misunderstanding. It has been resumed.

'There were several complaints against him even by Bahraini employees. We have asked the ministry to set up a special panel to deal with the issues we have had to deal with.'

Vice-president for financial affairs Jalaj Anand earlier said Isa had been sacked after three warning letters and warned that any strike would be considered illegal.-TradeArabia News Service