Should we ‘kill’ the postman?

Sri Lankans believe in resorting to strike action to resolve grudges related to employment. And the government plays dumb till then; in other words the state has to be told that workers have a problem. Just a day ago, postal workers commenced strike action citing existing job vacancies not being filled. According to the United Postal Trade Union Front there are as many as 6,000 job vacancies to be filled in the postal service. To make matters worse, there are about 500 employees who are serving the institute in positions in an ‘acting’ capacity and haven’t been made permanent.  

The postal service plays a pivotal role in the state services sector. So many official letters- bearing the state seal- have to be delivered. Delays in such letters can have a severe repercussion. State institutes such as the courts, department of examinations and the police will be severely affected in the face of postal strikes. These factors underscore the bargaining power of postal sector employees and the unions. 

On the flip side of things, postal workers must remind themselves of the era in which they are striking. This is a digital era where online platforms present the opportunity to communicate in a flash. So many of us don’t even bother with snail mail and prefer Gmail when communication must be made through the delivery of an official mail. No longer do even grandparents await letters by post; they are fortunate now to have smartphones and even iPads.   

Postal workers here ought to be aware that some of them are lucky to hold on to jobs in an industry where so many workers in other parts of the world- have been laid off citing cost-cutting measures. Considering the not-so-rosy aspect of this strike issue, postal workers must think of options in a largely revolutionised industry that is subject to constant change; like with rules of the sport rugby union. For the record, there are so many experimental playing laws and regulations introduced to rugby each year and both players and support staff attached to teams must simply comply. The workforce attached to such teams has shrunk over the years because now only the qualified and  really essential employees are paid salaries to be employed in rugby union.  

It’s important to note that the postal service is also an evolving business and subject to change. There is also the private sector which is also involved in this same business. Given that the present government has its ways of resolving crises- akin to the shortage of petrol and gas at one time-those in the postal trade must play safe when making demands. There is a tricky side to these protests too. There have been a few occasions when trade unions have struck deals with the government and turned their backs on disgruntled workers. 

In recent times, we observed that the most prominent strikes are being carried out by workers in the health sector and by non-academic staff of universities. These strikes were carried out to win the demands of workers and not to benefit highly paid officials. Does this fact give the message to all youth out there seeking employment that it’s a must to be an academic if you wish to lead a trouble-free life? 

The other factor that must be considered by these striking workers is whether companies and institutes can obtain goods and services workers produce via cheaper sources.  In 1959 there was a strike by the steel industry workers in America. As a result, the whole steel industry almost collapsed. Eventually it was found out that importing steel from Japan and South Korea was cheaper. 

Since the first recorded strike in 1156 BC, it seems, that the power of ‘the strike’ remains the same. A strike can jolt or judge the government and the authorities must take note of the grievances of the working class. In some places in the island the postman hasn’t arrived and what really worries us is not whether he is on strike, but whether he is ill and needs a hand in any way?