Row defused

A union recognition row at Costain's M5 widening contract at Avonmouth has been defused following a site meeting last week. Informal talks on the dispute will continue at national level between the main contractor and TGWU leader George Henderson.

Local TGWU officer Paul Chamberlain said: "It is still not a very satisfactory situation. It's a bit of a fudge. We accept that the GMB now has a majority of members on the site. That union has undertaken to write to the subcontractor Bowercross to ensure that our half dozen members are represented."