11th hour talks in Stalls Handlers dispute Representatives of both sides in the stalls handlers´ dispute will meet in Newmarket today in an 11th-hour bid to avert industrial action at Royal Ascot next week.Officials from the Transport and General Workers´ Union and stalls handers´ employers RaceTech met in Newmarket on Wednesday, but failed to reach a settlement in the dispute over allowances.Strike action planned means all races from Monday - apart from at Brighton - will begin with a flip start.This will affect the Royal meeting, which begins on Tuesday.A flip start involves stretching elastic across the course and then releasing it, allowing the horses to go.Sim Harris, managing director of RaceTech, said: 'Following consultation with the Flat racecourses RaceTech have asked to meet the TGWU, who have readily agreed to the meeting, tomorrow under the auspices of ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) in an effort to resolve the dispute.´´
