A wage agreement has been reached with two of three recognised unions at the South African Post Office (Sapo), it said on Friday.
The agreement would be effective from 1 December, said Simo Lushaba, head of the intervention team appointed by telecommunications and postal services minister Siyabonga Cwele and finance minister Nhlanhla Nene.
The agreement would be implemented immediately, subject to cash flow.
“The South African Postal and Allied Workers’ Union (Sapawu) and the Democratic Postal and Communications Union (Depacu) … have agreed to an increase of 6,5% for the bargaining unit,” he said.
Sapawu and Depacu represented 61% of employees at bargaining level.
Part of the agreement involved converting part-time and casual employees to full-time employees from 1 December, with full benefits becoming effective on 1 April, 2015. The full conversion would be completed within 24 months.
“However, following concerted and single-minded efforts by all relevant stakeholders … the Communication Workers Union (CWU), which represents 39% of the employees in the bargaining unit, has stuck to the demand of a 7,5% increase,” said Lushaba.
The CWU wanted the increase implemented immediately and backdated to April 2014. It further wanted backdated portions to be paid for January, February, and March 2015.
“They have rejected all the conditions which are inextricably linked to the financial position in which the Post Office finds itself,” Lushaba said.
“The Post Office cannot afford these demands and [the] ability to meet even the agreed increases depends on restoration of stable operations, recovery, and turnaround of operations.
“We believe that it will be irresponsible for the leadership of the organisation to accede to demands made by the CWU owing to our current financial position. Given our current cash flow scenario, it is absolutely impossible to agree on any guarantees, hence the conditions around our agreement with the other unions,” Lushaba said.
Cwele and Nene’s intervention allowed Post Office to become a 21st century service provider, he said.
“We urge all the remaining employees to return to work immediately so as to proceed with the task of rebuilding the Post Office,” Lushaba said. “Failure to heed this call will result in the implementation of the HR dismissal procedures with effect from Monday, 24 November.”
The major mail sorting centres in Gauteng hardest hit by the strike, Witpos and Tshwane Mail, were 100% staffed and operational.
The Polokwane and Welkom mail sorting centres had also resumed operations.
However, the Germiston and OR Tambo mail centre were not yet back to full capacity. — Sapa
