Johannesburg -
South Africans are losing patience. Customers have inundated the Post Office with queries, questions and even insults as the crippling strike enters its tenth week.
But on Friday the Post Office said it was “happy to report” that negotiations to end the strike were progressing, with some of the unions joining the Post Office to ensure that operations return to normality.
“We hope that all the labour unions in the Post Office will join these efforts as soon as possible. Operations are still hampered by severe intimidation and threats of violence, but we have made sure that mail held up in the strike is safe and will not come to harm.” It added that in most sorting centres in Gauteng, Bloemfontein and Polokwane almost no work could be done because employees were prevented from entering the workplaces. “We hope to have a positive outcome to the negotiation process very soon.”
The strike involves about 7 900 casual postal workers across the country who have been engaged in a tussle with management over their demands to be given permanent employment.
But later the Communication Workers Union said four provinces had rejected the Post Office’s latest proposal to striking workers.
The union wanted all workers to be made permanent as well as a 15 percent pay increase.
Meanwhile, the municipalities in Gauteng have urged customers to pay their service bills despite not receiving statements and accounts.
According to the City of Tshwane, in terms of section 27(2) of the Municipal Property Rates Act, 6 of 2004, a person is liable for payment of a rate whether or not that person has received a written account.
This means that if a client did not receive an account he/she must visit any of the City Walk-in Customer Care centres to request a copy of the account statement. Other communication channels include MMS, e-mail, SMS, Customer Care points and e-Tshwane.
- Saturday Star