Budapest  - Talks between management of Budapest Ferihegy International Airport and the representatives of striking workers ended in acrimony Friday, with both sides accusing the other of unlawful conduct.

Despite the ongoing strike, the airport had returned to near normal level of service by Thursday, albeit only through one of three passenger terminals, as many union members have gone back to work, and foreign temporary staff have been brought in.

"The striking unions are ready to lift the strike immediately as soon as (airport operator) Budapest Airport agrees again to recognise the collective contract that it unilaterally withdrew from in June, until a new collective contract has been drawn up," said strike leader Zoltan Kovacs.

Spokesman for Budapest Airport (BA), Domokos Szollar, accused the unions of "once again pulling a rabbit out of the hat" with its latest reasons for rejecting a compromise agreement drafted by BA earlier in the week.

The two unions behind the strike are demanding that a collective contract for ground staff be extended for three years until a new one is agreed, and that BA abandon a restructuring programme and pledge not to cut staff.

In a controversial move on Monday BA, which is owned by the German firm Hochtief, brought in 38 Greek temporary staff to man security gates and speed up the processing of passengers.

"On the basis of EU regulations, the demand from union leaders that only Hungarian citizens should be allowed to work at Ferihegy airport is illegitimate," Szollar said on Friday.

The use of foreign workers to break the strike has been condemned by numerous domestic, Greek, and European trade union organisations. (dpa)