Thousands down tools at Post Office over wage demands - SA

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THOUSANDS of members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) will down tools at the South African Post Office on Friday over unmet wage demands, the union said on Thursday.

An expected 7,000 union members will march on the regional headquarters of the Post Office in Johannesburg on Friday to present a memorandum of demands including a salary increase, a relocation allowance for transferred workers and improved job security.

The CWU declared a wage dispute in September after rejecting a wage increase offer of 6% from the Post Office.

CWU spokesman Matankana Mothapo said on Thursday the last meeting between the union and Post Office management had been on October 2, but no progress was made.

The Post Office could not immediately be reached for comment, but had warned in September during the presentation of its 2012-13 results that it faced a "hostile operating environment coupled with various identified business risks".

Post Office CEO Christopher Hlekane reported a R179m loss for the year, attributed to a decline in the mail business as well as a damaging strike earlier in 2013 that caused a loss of revenue of R100m.

Postal workers embarked on widespread unprotected strike action in February and March after being informed they were owed billions of rand in unpaid salary adjustments dating back to 1994.

A total of 588 striking workers were ultimately dismissed after they failed to respond to an ultimatum from the Post Office.