The SA Post Office is pleased with the end of the long strike that impacted its operations following the announcement by the Communication Workers Union (CWU), today (Tuesday, November 25).
This comes after intense negotiations with the three labour unions who form part of the Post Office bargaining unit: SA Postal and Allied Workers Union (Sapawu), CWU and the Democratic Postal and Communications Union (Depacu).
Heralding the announcement, leader of the Intervention Team, Dr Simo Lushaba said: “The end of the SA Post Office strike is a pleasing outcome and should be applauded, given the negative impact the strike has had on the country.
“We thank all the unions, the Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services, Dr Siyabonga Cwele, and other parties that contributed to the outcome.”
He decried the constant unprotected strikes that negatively impact the SA Post Office, its customers and employees.
“While we are encouraged by the end of the strike, it should also be put across to all affected parties that under our watch, and going forward, the SA Post Office will no longer tolerate any interruptions to its operations due strikes which do not fall within the ambit of the applicable labour dispensation of this country,” he added.
He said that the historical laxity has proven to be immensely costly to the overall wellbeing of the SA Post Office; resulting in immeasurable erosion of the SA Post Office’s value proposition to its customers, its credibility and the economy in general.
“This development will have a direct positive impact on our operations which are already steadily on the upturn as we have been experiencing sharp increases in employee presence at work from Friday, last week.
“As of today, only 0.7 per cent of the SA Post Office workforce remains absent from work.
“Consequently, operations in all provinces are now at almost 100 per cent capacity,” explained Dr Lushaba.
He said that they are on course to stabilising the operations and returning them to full capacity; adding that a sustainable SA Post Office can only be possible in a harmonious and collaborative labour relations environment.
“We reiterate our heartfelt gratitude to all the role players involved in this process and encourage this commitment which can only assist in the turning around of the SA Post Office.”
It will take 17 days to process and deliver the mail backlog emanating from the three-month long strike.
