Their employers, represented by the Electricity Council, rejected the demands claiming that a three-year pay agreement had been put in place the previous year.
[6] On 31 March, Godber appointed Lord Justice Pearson to chair a court of inquiry into the dispute.
Some felt that the report contained "more platitudes than recommendations" and it suggested no compromise, exhorting the parties to renewed efforts under the existing agreement.
[10] Negotiations again broke down on 27 November and unions announces that industrial action would begin and that they would start balloting for a strike.
[11] The dispute was called off on 30 November when the employers offered that excess hours worked would be compensated in cash if time-off in lieu was not taken within three months.