Union leaders and bosses at Scottish & Newcastle were due to meet again today (1 June) in an attempt to resolve a looming dispute over pensions for 1,900 distribution staff.
The drivers, mates and warehouse staff are being transferred to a new joint-venture company with logistics multinational Kuehne & Nagel.
The Transport & General Workers Union (T&G) says that a ballot on industrial action is likely unless a proposed switch from final salary to defined-contribution pensions is dropped.
An S&N spokesman says that as well as resuming negotiations today, both sides have agreed to start a programme of employee briefings on the new pension arrangements from Monday 5 June.
"The company and union are still in discussion over areas relating to the transfer of employees," the S&N spokesman adds.
John Jordan, the T&G's acting national secretary for food and drink, says little progress was made towards reaching an agreement at last week's meeting.
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