Strike hits delivery of postal articles in district

Nearly 500 post offices in the district remained closed on Monday even as the indefinite State-wide strike by postal staff enters its second week. The turnout was thin even at the Head Post Office in the city. The strike, spearheaded by the National Federation of Postal Employees (NFPE) and the Federation of National Postal Organisation (FNPO), is to press for addressing the wage issues of Gramin Dak Sevaks.

Delivery of postal articles, including registered and speed post mails, was totally disrupted in the district. They included letters from the Public Service Commission and registered posts from passport offices. Collection of postal articles from railway stations and other points too was hit.

Those applied for new passports to go for Haj too were affected by the strike that began on May 22. Three of such applicants on Monday visited the Head Post Office directly seeking the delivery of their passports. However, the employees turned down their requests. Similarly, students who wanted to send copies of certificates and online applications to various institutes of higher education were also hit by the strike.

Association leaders said they had the support of around 1,500 employees in Kozhikode district. In Kozhikode Head Post office alone, nearly 250 employees expressed solidarity with the protest, they claimed.

R. Jainendrakumar, assistant secretary of the Kerala Circle of NFPE, said the main demand placed before the government to end the strike was the hike in remuneration of Gramin Dak Sevaks and the implementation of the Kamalesh Chandra committee report.

The protesters staged a sit-in in front of the Head Post Office.

Members of the Bharatiya Janata Party-supported Bharatiya Postal Employees Federation (BPEF) stayed away from the strike.