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Cape Town - The South African Post Office (Sapo) has announced that members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) would embark on industrial action on Thursday.
Sapo acting group CEO Mlu Mathonsi said contingency measures have been put in place to ensure that operations proceed unhindered, following the CWU's 48-hour notice to commence industrial action.
“We anticipate that the industrial action will have minimal interruptions on our services given that this action involves only CWU members," said Mathonsi.
He explained that the employees taking part in the industrial action will still be working according to minimum work requirements, and that measures have been taken to ensure minimal services obstructions to lessen the impact of interruptions on business and customers.
“It is in the interest of all the affected parties, and particularly the sustainability of the SA Post Office, that frank discussions continue on all areas of concern. A strike at this point, in all conscience, is not a desirable outcome for the SA Post Office,” Mathonsi said.
He pointed out that the CCMA is currently facilitating a process of relationship-building between the company and its recognised unions. Besides the CCMA-facilitated process, there are also monthly meetings where Sapo's performance is tabled with unions.
Mathonsi urged all parties to engage the company leadership around the table to ensure the sustainability of the organisation. “We also urge employees taking part in the industrial action to refrain from engaging in any actions that demonstrates wilful interruption of the SA Post Office’s services, since such actions will not be accepted and prosecutions will follow.”
Sapo has lodged an urgent application at the Labour Court to set aside the certificate of non-resolution and stop any industrial action. This application was set to be heard on Thursday.
