Africa-Press – Namibia. PUBLIC Service Union of Namibia (PSUN) deputy secretary general Ujama Kaahangoro has accused the National Housing Enterprise (NHE) board of directors and the minister of urban and rural development, Erastus Uutoni, of being arrogant.
This is in relation to the board and ministry’s attitude toward wage negotiations reaching a deadlock.
NHE employees voted in favour of a strike that is set to start.
“I must place the blame squarely at the doors of both the board of directors and the minister. Those people are highly arrogant, if not unprofessional,” he said.
Kaahangoro said PSUN has made numerous attempts to engage the board, which did not respond to letters or meeting requests.
He said NHE employees are aware of the consequences of embarking on the strike in light of the company invoking a no-work no-pay principle during the strike.
“It will affect the employees if it is applied in the manner that they (NHE) want. But we encouraged our members to be able to bite the bullet as it comes because that is for their own cause,” he said.
In retaliation to the no-work, no-pay principle, Kaahangoro said the company should not expect employees to catch up on any backlog of work meant to be performed during the strike.
“There are always strategies that will counter the no-work no-pay principle. We are ready for that,” he said.
However, Kaahangoro said PSUN is still open to negotiations to avert the strike.
The NHE on Tuesday confirmed having been served with a notice of industrial action by PSUN.
NHE spokesperson Tuafi Shafombabi earlier this month said the company cannot afford to pay salary increases.
“NHE is not in a position to effect any salary increment at the moment. The looming strike will only do more harm than good to the institution,” she said.
Board chairperson Sam Shivute also confirmed that the NHE is not in good financial shape for salary increases, explaining that the company spends 65% of its income on salaries.
“Whatever decision we have made is in the best interest and sustainability of the institution. You can’t give what you don’t have and you don’t give in to please people,” he said.
Shivute said in terms of governance, the board cannot meet with PSUN because that mandate lies with the company’s management.
“Normally, the board is encouraged not to get involved in operational matters. When there is negotiation, the board delegates management to engage with the union. Ordinarily, you wouldn’t want the board to be the one negotiating with the union. That happens maybe in dysfunctional organisations,” he said.
NHE employees were demanding a 7% increment, which the company could not offer.
There was also a proposal to pay the employees a once-off lump sum N$10 000.
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