BONN (dpa-AFX) - In the wage dispute at Deutsche Post, the Verdi union plans to continue its warning strikes on Saturday. This time, the union is calling on parcel and letter delivery workers across Germany to stage all-day work stoppages. According to Verdi, around 15,000 employees took part in the walkouts at the mail and parcel centers on Thursday and Friday. For this reason alone, there may be delays in deliveries for days, according to the Post.

"The strikes are a clear signal from our members to the employers," said Verdi deputy chairwoman and negotiator Andrea Kocsis, according to Friday's statement. She said employers had made it clear in the second round of negotiations that they were not prepared to compensate for real wage losses. This was a provocation to which the employees gave a clear answer, she said.

Verdi called on its members to stage the work stoppages after the union felt there had been no progress in the second round of negotiations for the approximately 160,000 pay-scale employees. The union is demanding 15 percent more pay for a contract term of one year. The Post Board rejects the demand as unrealistic. Negotiations will continue on February 8 and 9. Swiss Post has announced that it will present an offer then./tob/DP/nas