Management at Lyttelton Port is vowing to keep the place running throughout the strike action of a significant portion of its work force.

A break down in pay negotiations has seen Rail and Maritime Transport Union members vote for a 24-hour withdrawal of labour on the eleventh of February.

General secretary Wayne Butson says about 50-percent of workers inside the container terminal and almost all the workers outside the container terminal are union members.

He thinks the port's promise to stay open is ludicrous.

"If the leadership team of Lyttelton Port company believe that the port can continue to operate with our members not being on the job, then they need to line up immediately for workplace drug and alcohol tests, because they're in some alternative universe."