Almost 5,000 post office employees are at risk of losing their jobs after their temporary employee relief scheme (TERS) relief funding application was denied by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration (CCMA) and a single adjudication committee.
The relief funding application was brought forward by the joint business rescue practitioners and relevant labour unions in an effort to secure funding for the post office’s bargaining unit staff.
Unfortunately, this week it was announced that the adjudication committee had ruled against the relief.
The joint business rescue practitioner, Anoosh Rooplal, stated that the denial of the TERS application means that the bargaining unit category of employees, consisting of 4,889 individuals, will now face the prospect of retrenchment.
This decision has dealt a significant blow to the affected employees and their families.
The withdrawal of termination letters was contingent upon the success of the TERS application. With the application being unsuccessful, the employees are now left in a precarious position.
Rooplal expressed disappointment at the outcome, as they had hoped that the TERS funding would provide temporary relief to the staff members.
The funding would have been utilized to up-skill and retrain the employees, potentially opening up new job opportunities while still earning a salary. The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies had also offered to assist with finding placement positions for the staff after their upskilling.
Rooplal argued that the approved funding would have greatly benefited the employees and the post office as a whole. The financial stability of the organization would have been enhanced, potentially leading to future growth and the creation of new positions for the affected staff.
Despite their best efforts and acting in good faith, the joint business rescue practitioners and the unions were unable to secure the TERS relief funding. They acknowledge the turmoil and distress caused by this application and subsequent rejection, and offer their sincere apologies to the bargaining unit staff members and their families.
Rooplal believes that if the application had been successful, even if only for a short period, it would have significantly improved the outcome for the affected employees and their families.
In conclusion, the denial of the TERS relief funding application has placed almost 5,000 post office employees at risk of retrenchment. The joint business rescue practitioners and labour unions had hoped that the funding would provide temporary relief and opportunities for up-skilling and retraining. Unfortunately, the outcome has been disappointing, and the affected employees now face an uncertain future.
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