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Chesapeake and Amicus have clashed again over the involvement of ACAS in the dispute at the packaging giant's Newcastle and Bradford sites.

Strike action started at the two sites at the end of last year over new terms and conditions. The dispute escalated after it was claimed that 10 employees at the Bradford site were dismissed for not signing new contracts.

A Chesapeake spokesman confirmed it had been approached by the arbitration organisation but "explained to it that we are not in dispute with our employees".

Amicus assistant general secretary Tony Burke said: "We have a high regard for ACAS and responded positively. There is nothing to lose by going with Acas, so it makes us wonder what the company is playing at."

- Amicus has signed solidarity agreements with three international ‘super unions', paving the way for the creation of a global union.  Amicus, which merged with the GPMU print and paper industry union in November 2004, has tied up with two of the US's largest unions, the Machinists and United Steelworkers, and IG Metall in Germany.

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