Post office strike infuriates residents
The post office were stolen and bicycles and undelivered mail were set alight and burnt by striking Post Office employees.
“This Post Office is temporarily closed for reasons of public safety.”
This is the sign outside the Edenvale SA Post Office after the keys to the post office were stolen and bicycles and undelivered mail were set alight and burnt by striking Post Office employees.
The incidents took place last week at the Edenvale Post Office.
The acting spokesperson for the Edenvale SAPS, Lieutenant Colonel Robbie Roberts said, “We received a call about a group of problematic Post Office strikers at the Edenvale branch. The strikers arrived at the branch in a Toyota Venture and started threatening the staff and demanding they close the branch. The strikers burnt two bicycles belonging to the Post Office. They also set undelivered mail alight. Before leaving the branch, the strikers stole the branch keys from the manager.”
“When the Edenvale SAPS arrived on the scene, the strikers had already fled. A case of public violence and theft of keys has been opened,” said Lt Col Roberts.
It is unknown which branch of the Post Office the strikers represent.
“Residents should be vigilant and should they see something suspicious, they should alert the police so that we can immediately dispatch our vehicles,” said Lt Col Roberts.
Frustrated Post Officers users from across the country took to social media to vent their anger, which resulted in a trending of the hashtag #PostOfficeStrike.
Edenvale resident and local business owner, Mr Martin Sinclair, was frustrated when he went to the branch on Wednesday, September 17. He found that the Post Office was still closed, due to reasons of public safety.
“It is an utter inconvenience,” said Mr Sinclair.
“It has been two weeks since we received any mail. Why was this not communicated? I have been coming to the Post Office every day only to find that there is no mail,” said Mr Sinclair.
“The strike is affecting local businesses. All the courier services are getting business and the Post Office is becoming obsolete. However, the issue is that people cannot afford to pay for courier services because it is more expensive,” said Mr Sinclair.
According to a statement released by the South African Post Office, the service is currently in the process of implementing dismissal processes, following a two-week, unprotected industrial action by some casual and part-time employees within Ekurhuleni and Tshwane.
This action is a culmination of a fair and due labour relations-based process to resolve the matter, following a strike which severely impacted on customers.
According to the statement, the strikes have been characterised by intimidation and violence, through the blocking of workplaces, assaulting employees and damaging property. This has resulted in the closure of some Post Office branches and mail delivery depots in an effort to ensure the safety of employees and customers.
“In our view, the strike is unnecessary, as it is centred on the speed with which the conversion of casual workers into permanent positions is being implemented. This is being addressed concomitantly and constructively with the leadership,” said Mr Christopher Hlekane, the GCEO at SA Post Office.
According to Mr Hlekane, the Post Office has already commenced the process of converting 900 casual worker positions into permanent positions, which is part of the agreement reached with the casual workers’ leadership.
Business continuity plans have been implemented to keep operations going and to minimise the impact of the strike on customers.
At this stage, customers should expect some delay in the delivery of mail in the affected areas. @BedfordJourno
Lets all use couriers and boycott the Post office , Problem solved
Why do South African workers have to damage things during strikes? It seems that being violent and destroying property is part of South African culture during strikes!
It’s realy bad where sapo don’t have safety to protect public percel,even I’m anxious of my two traking parcel but it’s being amonth I’m not received yet,strike worker can practice public property safety nd how should no work no pay workers asking to be permanent?its a part of game nd some might be benefited but as it is our fault to put my things in post office it’s being long,one percel it’s not safe but how they can others employees safty,look private courier never seen strike,bank never seen strike,even more private organisation operating years and years without strike,its better gov can handover sapo in private organisation where it will more convenient way to be operate,lot of percel is being stayed in post office will be damaged or be burned by casual or part time employee striker,its a national threat for economy naw and than strike.Sapo leader said it’s showing the anger of strike people,if they are too much hugry,why they don’t burn their house or their children,they can’t do that,its a normal sense,so when they do such a stupid things,they must know it’s belongs to other and it’s their duty to protect public percel,strike practise must be in legally without violence,thnks