Letters continue to pile up while SAPO workers strike

Strike action at the SA Post Office (SAPO) has impacted on most individuals and businesses with delays in the delivery of bills, statements, letters and all correspondence. The strike, in its third week, saw workers allege that they have been working without contracts since 2012 and that their pleas for contracts have been ignored.
It started with a three-month strike in 2012 when employees demanded permanent contracts and full-time employment. 2013 was also plagued by strikes, as was February 2013 and the past three weeks.
The SAPO has released a statement saying that 473 casual and part-time employees that embarked on an illegal strike have been dismissed, on 19 August 2014, following their refusal to heed calls to return to their posts.
The illegal strike was concentrated in the Tshwane and East Rand areas of the SA Post Office’s operation, but Northern News has had reports from clients at Mokopane and the Onverwacht post office stating that they were turned away. While the post office is open, no letters or parcels are being accepted or processed.
“The strike has caused a spike in courier deliveries,” says Rika van der Walt, owner of Postnet Lephalale, “direct delivery is the only way to ensure that your parcels are delivered in time.”
In the meantime, the SAPO says that it is making an effort to resolve this industrial action, however, at this point it was left with no other recourse but to dismiss the striking employees.
Clients should expect delays in the delivery of mail as the strike continues.