Africa-Press – Namibia. THE Namibia Public Workers Union (Napwu) says the Keetmanshoop municipal council is transgressing guiding principles for harmonious working relationships.
The union’s regional chairperson, Astrid Sauerwein, says over the past couple of years Napwu has witnessed the relationship between the union, its members and the council deteriorate.
Sauerwein said this on Monday during the signing of a salary increase agreement of 3% for municipality employees.
The meeting was held at Keetmans-hoop between Napwu and the council.
“There have been numerous transgressions against the said principles, like non-adherence to the provisions of the recognition agreement by the council, followed by the refusal of the council to permit the union to hold lawful meetings with its members, and the victimisation of employees by virtue of their union membership,” Sauerwein said.
She said there is general non-adherence to the Local Authorities Act, the human resources policy, and the Labour Act, which, according to the union, are contributing factors to the alleged unhealthy working environment at the municipality.
“Napwu is therefore honoured by the willingness of the acting chief executive officer to remedy the situation and rebuild the limping working relationship between the council, its employees and the union,” she said.
“Similarly, I would like to thank all our members for their patience during these protracted negotiations, but we have come to an agreement on the 3%,” Sauerwein said.
Salary negotiations started last year and reached a deadlock in January this year.
The workers were demanding a 5% increment initially and threatened to down tools if their demands were not met.
The chairperson of the council’s management committee, Johannes Vries, said he does not want to dwell on Napwu’s allegations against the council. Vries said economically times are tough – not only for people but also institutions – but that the council has taken it upon itself to award the increment. The 3% increment comes after a prolonged drought which has led to losses in livestock, and the Covid-19 pandemic that saw significant job losses.
“We know it is not much. But the council is not in a position to even award that 3%. We know all is not well at our institution.
“However, we are going to tighten our belts and have to strengthen our revenue collection activities from our clients to honour that 3% increment,” Vries said.
“Secondly, we do not want to go into Napwu’s allegations, but we pledge to give our full cooperation, and that we will do our best to uphold the obligations and requirements of the recognition agreement,” he said.
Acting chief executive officer Catherine Boois said she was relieved that the agreement was reached.
“The strike rules were already signed, and the workers would have gone on full-blown industrial action.
“The same workers, however, last month showed that they were willing to come back to the table and go through another round of negotiations, and that is how the deadlock was broken and we reached this agreement,” she said.
The agreement offers a 3% increase for all union members from job grades ‘A’ to ‘F’.
It will be effective from 1 April, and will be backdated to 1 July 2022.
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