No end in sight for postal strike

Complaints from residents about the poor postal service are still pouring in, and there appears to be no end in sight to the strike, which has dragged on for more than two months now.

The Advertiser continues to receive complaint from Post Office clients, who are caught in the middle of the fight between the two parties, with some claiming that they have not received their mail since May this year.

Meanwhile, the Greater Boksburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry says the ongoing Post Office strike is having a serious impact on business operations across the city, and needs to be resolved urgently.

“The strike hurts local businesses badly, and it’s very sad that there is no end in sight to it. It’s a matter of concern for those companies that rely on the Post Office,” says Greater Boksburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Willi Riedel.

The striking casual workers are demanding permanent contracts with benefits, better pay and better working conditions.

Some of theses casual workers have apparently been working for 15 years in vacant positions.

According to the general secretary of Communications Workers Union (CWU), Aubrey Tshabalala, they are demanding that all workers be employed as permanent employees, that salaries be increased and call for Sapo to return the reinstated employees to their original positions.

Quoting Albert Einstein, Tshabalala said: “No problem can be solved from the same consciousness that created it, adding that the challenges can only be resolve by removing the Post Office board.

“We have been calling on Telecommunications and Postal Services minister Siyabonga Cwele, to fire the entire SA Post Office (Sapo) board for its incompetence.

“All the board members must go because they have failed to take the right steps to address the labour dispute, which has been dragging on for more than three years now,” says Tshabalala.

CWC has also called for the dismissal of CEO Christopher Hlekane, who has been placed on special leave.

Tshabalala says CWC is now waiting for a proposal from (Sapo) about the status of casual workers, and to bring a better offer to the table, which will then be taken to employees for consideration.

Tshabalala says more talks will be held, however, he states that the union suspects that there are still people who are making secret plans, aimed at causing the negotiations to collapse.

“They are promising employees that their demands will only be met if they abandon their union.”

There have been several crippling strikes since 2011 at the Post Office.

Negotiations to resolve the problems has been carrying on intermittently for at least three years, however, it appear as if the top management is having difficulties resolving these labour disputes.

DA shadow deputy minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services, Cameron MacKenzie MP, says that the root of the unrest is that Sapo management has failed to honour its undertaking given to workers eight months ago, that it would employ causual workers as permanent part-time workers.

The implementation of the flexible labour strategy meant casual workers would qualify for benefits including vacation and maternity leave, medical aid, pension and a housing allowance.

MacKenzie says a recent reply to a parliamentary question revealed that as at August 1, 2014, a total of 7 556 casual workers were employed – down from 7 911 in February 2013.

This means that in 21 months, only 355 workers have been permanently employed, equating to just 17 people a month.

“The absence of any reliable commitments from the Sapo on steps taken to end the current strike is a sad indictment on this organisation.

“Reports of damage to property and intimidation by striking workers are of great concern,” says MacKenzie.

The DA also calls on Cwele to immediately bring an end to the strike and mitigate any further damage by:

• Enforcing the eight-month-old agreement to convert casual workers to permanent part-time employees as a priority;

• Fast tracking the conversion process and communicating timelines to affected workers; and,

• Ensuring an urgent return to work by employees to clear the accumulated nine-week mail backlog.

“The alternative is the continuing disruption of an essential service on which the South African economy depends,” concludes MacKenzie.

More than 35 branches in Gauteng have been affected by the strike including Boksburg, Braamfontein, Sebokeng, Germiston and Honeydew.

President Jacob Zuma has recently signed a Proclamation directing the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate, among others, the allegations of serious maladministration and corruption in connection with the affairs of the Sapo and unlawful conduct by the officials of Sapo.

“CWU welcomes this move as we have for some time been raising this maladministration and corruption by Sapo,” says Tshabalala.

“Three years ago we lodged a complaint with our Office of the Public Protector, but up to this day no report has reached us. Instead they decided to speak to CWU through media.

“We call on Sapo officials, and in particular our members, to cooperate with the SIU to ensure a speedy conclusion of this long overdue investigation.”

The DA has, in the meantime, welcomed the decision to place Hlekane on extended leave.

– @FanieBoksburg