Retrenched Polokwane Post Office group to take matter to court

POLOKWANE -Over 60 Polokwane locals making up around 45 000 already retrenched South African Post Office (SAPO) employees in the country gathered for the first time at the Jack Botes park amphitheatre on Tuesday, to discuss ways in which they can express dissatisfaction to management of the government parastatal about how they were let go.

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) are among those fighting to reduce the proposed number of retrenchments but only affected members formed part of this meeting.

Last year, the Pretoria High Court ordered that SAPO be placed under Business Rescue (BR) with immediate effect following a provisional liquidation in the run-up to the court ruling, which later ruled in favour of an immediate BR Plan (BRP)
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The group said operational constraints were the main reason for their removal, as stated by the employer in letters distributed to them before Good Friday. They are serving notice, some at work and others from home.

During the meeting, they agreed to join other groups around the country that are planning to escalate the matter to court in question of the criteria used to facilitate the retrenchments.

From what they understand, criteria known to them as “Last In – First Out” and “First In and Last Out” are some of those that they expected to have taken place. But to their surprise, people employed at different times constitute the retrenched staff.

Joint BRP spokesperson, on behalf of SAPO, Louise Brugman could not divulge the criteria to Polokwane Observer when it enquired on Tuesday, but insisted that it had been discussed criteria “among all parties ahead of the retrenchment facilitation process”.

“The retrenchment process as determined by the Labour Relations Act was facilitated by the CCMA. Facilitations began on January 4 and were completed on March 22. The obligatory 60-day process was extended as further negotiations and input between the Employee Committee, the relevant unions and SAPO were deemed appropriate. It was further agreed retrenchment payments would take place over eight months in three tranches. Some 4700 retrenchment letters have been issued to staff to date,” she further explained.

Those elected to speak to media in Polokwane, Moraba Choši, Walter Pheedi and Nelson Ngoepe said their group signed a national proposal to request a prominent legal counsel for representation for when they take the matter to the labour court, in which they will incur costs.

While some employees who spoke to Polokwane Observer also call for the reversal of the retrenchments, others are concerned that payment packages are not true to the periods they have worked for.

A Post Office manager, who cannot be named as he had no authority to speak to the media, said their retirement funds were still being deducted, but not paid over.

Meanwhile Moraba emphasised that they had also not received increases in the last five years, despite having served with what he said was their “all”.

The workers also told Polokwane Observer that they now face a bleak future with outstanding pension fund contributions and medical aid by the employer.

In response, Brugman said he BRP again insists having fully settled medical aids of these workers.

“Therefore, there cannot be any further claims sent to individual members. An urgent correspondence with the Provisional Curator of the Medical Aid will be made to resolve this matter,” she further remarked.