DA calls for action on post office strike

The DA welcomes the decision to place SA Post Office (SAPO) chief executive officer Christopher Hlekane on extended leave.

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 is of great concern.

At the root of the unrest is that the SAPO management has failed to honour its undertaking given to workers, eight months ago, that it would employ casual 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.

A recent reply to a parliamentary question revealed that, as at August 1, 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 DA calls on the Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services, Siyabonga 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;

• 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.