A new grade structure at Isle of Man Post Office is still not in place - six months after chairman Julie Edge suggested it would be ready within weeks.

In answer to a Tynwald question about pay and grades last September, Ms Edge told Lawrie Hooper (LibVannin, Ramsey) it was not possible to make direct comparisons with the UK public sector and other Manx Government jobs as equivalent job titles may not exist.

She added at that time: ’I will endeavour to provide the information requested based on job weight in the next six weeks, subject to the successful implementation of a new Post Office role grade structure that is currently in progress.’

But when Mr Hooper asked in the House of Keys last week whether that information was available yet, she admitted it was not - but said she hoped to have an answer within the next six weeks.

Ms Edge said in a written answer: ’The implementation of the new grade structure is nearing completion but has not yet been completed.

’I will endeavour to provide the answer within the next six weeks subject to completion of final appeals from staff.’

She added: ’For clarity, it is only possible to provide the pay comparisons requested in respect of the basic contracted pay, exclusive of any contracted allowances, ad hoc payments, employer pension contributions etc.’

Last year she said the new role grades were ’based on job weight that are comparable to other sectors and use similar evaluation methods’.

Post Office management has been involved in a dispute with a union over pay and pensions reforms.

A series of talks has so far failed to resolve the dispute, which has seen postal workers go on strike more than once, although the Communications Workers’ Union said recently it had no plans for further strike action.