Postal workers strike continues
JOBURG - Delays in the delivery of mail and parcels continue as negotiations continue between the South African Post Office and employees.
“Negotiations continue at the highest level, but because of the sensitivity of discussions we cannot discuss details at this stage,” SA Post Office spokesperson Lungile Lose said.
“Although 60 percent of mail sorting staff are back at work, delivery is difficult because of intimidation of delivery employees,” said Lose.
On 20 October, the post office said as increasing numbers of postal workers were returning to work, processing of mail items continued at sorting facilities affected by industrial action, including the Witspos processing facility in Joburg.
Postal services in most parts of the country were affected by the ongoing strike, with several incidents of non-striking workers being intimidated at some areas in Gauteng.
Although the post office said Incidents of intimidation had been decreasing, there was a resurge of intimidation. This resulted in many post offices throughout Joburg and the East and West Rand being closed as a precautionary measure on 21 October.
A total of 43 post offices in Joburg, the West Rand and East Rand, were temporarily closed – majority of them for repairs after being vandalised, Lose said.
Postal workers in Gauteng embarked on strike on 18 August due to the post office’s apparent failure to employ casual workers permanently.
According to Lose, the financial impact as a result of the strike, which spanned three months, had not been quantified yet.
“The SA Post Office continues to discuss options with labour unions which will address issues in a sustainable way and restore labour relations to long-term stability,” Lose said.
Earlier this month, Parliament’s communications and public enterprises select committee heard the post office was on the brink of collapse.
According to reports, the post office’s general manager public affairs Andrew Nongogo said the parastatal was losing customers and money due to the strike, and suggested there might not be enough funds to pay salaries at the end of the month.
“The financial situation of the post office is dire. It is seriously dire,” he said at the time.
