Eduardo Florindo, coordinator for the Sitesul manufacturing union, declined to reveal details of what was discussed but said that "channels of dialogue remained open with a view to a solution for the new continuous working hours” that suits both sides.

The meeting was the first since a strike on 30 August – the first ever at the plant in a labour dispute – brought the plant to a halt. Workers oppose a planned move to a new shift system that would involve Saturday working without overtime.

On Friday afternoon the board is due to meet officials of another trade union, SIMA.

However, the company has said it will only enter formal negotiations with the new Works Council, which is to be elected on 3 October.