Africa-Press – Namibia. THE Public Service Union of Namibia (PSUN) has requested an arbitrator from the Office of the Labour Commissioner to set a date to establish the strike rules for workers from the National Housing Enterprise (NHE).
This was announced by PSUN secretary general Matthew Haakuria yesterday at a press conference in Windhoek.
Haakuria was providing feedback on the looming action after 90% of NHE workers voted in favour of a strike last Friday.
He said PSUN is not deterred by the threat of the no-work, no-pay policy or that of retrenching workers.
“The message is loud and clear to the board of directors of the NHE that the strike will continue, lest they change their attitude and engage in social dialogue with the union. We are still open for negotiations,” he said.
Haakuria said the approach of the board instructing NHE management to write to the union will not work, and until they come to the negotiating table to explain themselves, the strike will continue.
If the strike is the only thing that will cause the NHE board to sit down and talk to workers, then so be it, Haakuria said.
“So, we are doubling down. We are not going backwards. The strike will continue until our demands are met or until we sit around the table and work out a win-win solution for everyone,” he said.
Last week, NHE workers voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike following requests for a once-off payment of N$15 000, which was later reduced to N$10 000, which was not granted by the NHE.
The board indicated that it will only consider the once-off payment once financials for 2019, 2020 and 2021 are audited.
After the vote results were released, the NHE issued a statement to note that if employees go on strike, the organisation will evoke a no-work, no-pay policy during the strike period.
The NHE maintained that a strike would disrupt service delivery.
“The fact remains that the industrial action will negatively impact NHE’s operations and disrupt the normal scheduled services for the duration of this planned industrial action of which the end-date is not known.”
The NHE also said the organisation would endeavour to work to resolve the matter with the urgency it rightfully deserves.
A letter sent to PSUN and seen by The Namibian, dated 1 February 2023, from NHE chief executive officer Gisbertus Mukulu, read that the once-off payment in lieu of salary and wage increases for the 2021/22 financial year was declined.
“And the following factors were taken into consideration, the sustainability and performance of the organisation and the financial position of the organisation.”
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