Postal workers resumed duties from 4.00 p.m. yesterday (24) following discussions with Minister of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, ending a week-long strike that had disrupted postal services nationwide.
The industrial action, launched on Sunday (17) by several unions including the Postal and Telecommunications Officers’ Union and the United Postal Trade Unions’ Front (UPTUF), was prompted by 19 unresolved demands. During the strike, many post offices came to a standstill, leaving customers facing significant delays.
Speaking after the talks, Minister Jayatissa said postal workers had agreed to suspend the trade union action and return to normal duties. “While the government was not ready to discuss two main requests from the unions, it is ready to address the remaining 17,” he noted.
The Minister also announced that biometric attendance systems would be introduced from Monday at the operations and administrative divisions of the Central Mail Exchange, and the government’s proposed overtime payment regulations, effective from March, will be implemented without changes.
Union leaders confirmed the decision. Chinthaka Bandara, co-convener of UPTUF, said the unions were prepared to continue discussions with the Minister.
Jagath Mahinda, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Postal Services Association, said a large number of striking postal employees had returned to work, and postal service would return to normal tomorrow.
The week-long strike caused more than 500,000 domestic and international letters and parcels to accumulate, according to Manjula Bandara Jayasundara, General Secretary of the Postal and Telecommunication Officers’ Association. He said that around 350,000 items had already piled up by last Friday, with the total expected to exceed 500,000 due to the work stoppage.
by Chaminda Silva and Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon 