South East regional director Chris Patefield is leading the BPIF team, while general secretary Tony Dubbins, deputy general secretary Tony Burke and national officer Chris Harding are heading the unions delegation. Both sides were silent about their demands.

The talks take place against a backdrop of tought trading, company closures and industry gloom together with ongoing speculation about the future of the agreement. "It's absolutely pointless," said one print chief. "The trouble is that most of the people running printing companies are frightened of negotiating on their own behalves."