21.   The stubbornness of both sides has dismayed commentators, and some company leaders complained openly that the management refusal to make a pay offer was irrational.

22.   The union could not immediately be reached for comment about the pay offer or about Tucker.

23.   Union chauffers decided Friday to withdraw a strike threat and resume negotiations now that a better pay offer has been put forward.

24.   Workers from both companies took the industrial action after rejecting pay offers unions considered were inadequate.

25.   Workers on Thursday postponed a strike at the Coventry assembly plant of the French automaker Peugeot so they can consider a higher pay offer.

26.   Another dispute could take place at a mine in New Mexico owned by Phelps Dodge, where unions are resisting the latest management pay offer.

27.   The threat of strike action by British Airways pilots finally came to an end when unions accepted a pay offer from management.

28.   Unions representing workers for state automaker Renault called Wednesday for stepped up strike action if negotations do not resume on a pay offer which they have rejected.

29.   On Thursday, IG Metall leaders decided to set up a strike ballot starting Monday in Bavaria to try to force the employers to make a national pay offer.

30.   Opposition Social Democrat leader Rudolf Scharping called Monday on employers to make a pay offer on which there could be negotiations.