The Communication Workers Union (CWU) on Friday remained adamant that the post office strike planned for next week was still on.
CWU spokesperson Shakes Gonyane said that union negotiators were busy consulting with lawyers in response to the post office attempt to get a court interdict to stop the strike.
“There is no question that our members will embark on strike action as planned next week,” Gonyane said.
The post office on Thursday warned that no work, no pay and lock-out policies will be implemented if employees embark on strike action next week.
Following failed wage negotiations, the CWU, which represents 11 000 postal workers, threatened a week of strike action starting with “work to rule” on Monday.
CWU said the programme of action is in support of its demands tabled during the 2004/2005 substantive negotiations with the post office.
The trade union noted that while some agreement had been reached on issues of housing allowances, medical aid and maternity leave, salary increases remained a contentious issue.
Although the CWU had in principal agreed to a 7% increase offered by the post office, there was a dispute over wage increases for last year.
Post office workers did not receive an increase last year and the union wanted a portion of the 7% backdated to 2003.
Their employer refused to do this.
The union declared a dispute and referred the matter to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) for conciliation.
Post office group executive of human resources Sipho Nkese was not available for comment. – I-Net Bridge