Ferry crews are being balloted on action

Management and officials of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union met for four hours in Glasgow.

About 450 members of the RMT are being balloted on industrial action which could, if it goes ahead later this month, cripple most of the fleet.

The new deal would offer workers a 3% increase this year with a bonus scheme replacing the contentious proposal for performance-related pay.

If agreement can be reached, the RMT will call off its ballot, it is understood.

One-year deal

CalMac are expected go away over the weekend and work out the exact cost of the compromise deal, which would be for one year.

And RMT negotiator Steve Todd revealed that a second two year deal is also on the table.

The second deal put forward by the union is for a further 3% next year.

"There is a possibility of a one-year deal, or there is a possibility of a two-year deal," said Mr Todd.

We regard the talks to have been constructive and think progress has been made Hugh Dan MacLennan, CalMac spokesman

"I don't believe we are far from being able to reach a decision. Ultimately though, any decision will have to be accepted by the RMT members."

CalMac spokesman Hugh Dan MacLennan said: "We regard the talks to have been constructive and think progress has been made, given that we weren't going to meet in midweek."

The firm had offered workers a 3.5% pay rise, but union officials were unhappy that 1% of the deal was performance-related.

The last time CalMac ferries were hit by strike action was in 2001, when more than 100 members of the RMT stopped work for a week.

The dispute was in protest at a reduction in the working week for pier hands and sea-going staff.

It resulted in the cancellation of services to Arran and Bute.

The sides will sit down again at a Glasgow hotel on Monday lunchtime.