No parcel post service at Surpost

People currently can’t count on Surpost to send their parcels abroad. Walther Uiterloo, chairman of the union at Surpost, pointed out that the workers went on strike on June 3.

Uiterloo explained that several employees show up to assist the customers but that the parcels are not sent abroad. “The customers receive service as usual and they assume that their parcels will be send abroad but that will not happen,” said Uiterloo who added that every day customers call to complain that their parcels have not arrived. “The customers are told that the employees are on strike,” said the union chairman who added that Surpost must also pay the national carrier, Surinam Airways (SLM), for transporting the packages abroad.

Uiterloo pointed out that the employees have been asking for a raise for some time now. Last year the union requested a raise of SRD 1,000 but parties have not reached an agreement yet. At the end of March 2019 the judge ruled that the employer had to negotiate with the union to reach a collective labor agreement. The director summoned the union on May 16 but did not talk about the collective labor agreement 2018.

The director on June 7 decided to give the employees a raise of SRD 85 under srtrict conditions. According to the union chairman, the director is willing to grant a raise of SRD 1,000 and a 250 percent raise of the secundary benefits. “But he wants 88 employees to leave,” said Uiterloo who added that Surpost currently has about 200 employees and that they would remain on strike until the director has met their demands.