By Saidu Jalloh, Reporter, D.S.
Tensions have escalated at the Sierra Leone Postal Service (SALPOST), as over 65 employees have initiated a strike to demand eight months of unpaid wages. This crisis stems from the loss of Air France’s Freetown route in 2023, which had previously accounted for a significant portion of the agency’s revenue.
Edward Yerimeh Kamara, General Secretary of the Sierra Leone Union of Postal and Telecommunication Employees (SULPTE), reported that despite numerous meetings with SALPOST management, no resolution has been achieved. A formal 21-day strike notice was issued on July 1st, highlighting the agency’s worsening financial situation, which has resulted in a monthly deficit of NLe330,000, making it impossible to cover its NLe640,000 in expenses, including staff salaries.
Kamara noted that while SALPOST recently secured a partnership with Japan Postal Operators, the expected funding will only suffice to address two months of salary arrears, leaving the majority of the eight-month backlog unresolved. Additionally, many retirees are still awaiting their unpaid termination benefits.
Workers have criticized SALPOST’s leadership for exacerbating the financial crisis by hiring six senior staff members, including two retirees on contract, despite the agency’s inability to pay existing employees. They argue that such decisions undermine necessary cost-cutting measures.
As digital transformation reshapes the postal sector, SALPOST is exploring modernization strategies. However, striking workers maintain that immediate payment of salaries is paramount, vowing to continue their strike until their demands are met.
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