Postal employees across India will go on an indefinite strike from December 17 after the centralgovernment rejected their demands, the Economic Times newspaper reported.
The main demands that postal workers consider “just and legitimate” include, among otherthings, the regularisation of working contracts of all temporary staff employed at India Post andthe implementation of the new pension scheme.
S S Mahadevarya, the National General Secretary of the All India Dak Karamchari Sangh, theinformal community of Hindu activists, told Indian media that the employees would hold torch-lightprocessions on the evening of December 16 to press for their demands and reiterate solidarity andunity of the organisation.
Mahadevarya added that the employees would also hold rallies and demonstrations in front oftheir respective post offices every day. He further declared that the agitation of the postalworkers would continue until all the demands of the Sangh were accepted by the Government.
The strike will hit India Post’s efforts to modernise its business, services and operations,and could drive parcel and express customers to rival Indian operators or international companiessince post office closures will impact on its sales.
In cooperation with Deutsche Post World Net, India Post recently launched WorldNet Express, anew international express delivery service to 220 countries through DHL Express to speed updelivery of parcels and documents. Post office closures would hit sales of this new service,however.
In order to become more competitive compared to private operators, India Post also created anew company image with a new logo and upgraded its post offices in July this year. It alsoannounced plans to introduce four more freighter aircrafts to its fleet in 15 major cities in thecountry as the state postal operator is faced with stiff competition from private couriers.
