TransNamib workers give up strike

The more than 1 400 striking workers of TransNamib are likely to return to their posts today, although the Namibia Transport and Allied Workers Union (Natau) have pledged to take steps to ensure that the company complies with the demands of the employees.

An interim court order was issued on Saturday declaring the strike which commenced on January 27 as illegal. The strike, which started at Walvis Bay, was propelled by dissatisfaction about the implementation of a new salary structure, and spread to other regions in the country.
An urgent interdict was brought before the court to declare the countrywide strikes illegal last Friday, but the case was postponed until Saturday due to the fact that all the employees involved in the strike were not served with the notice.

It was pointed out in court that TransNamib is losing money on a daily basis, and also suffers major problems with the delivery of cargo due to the strikes.

Employees at the Walvis Bay, Grootfontien, Swakopmund, Lüderitz, Tsumeb and Mariental offices have to show just cause before March 9, 2012, why the order should not be made final.
The order prohibits the 1 436 employees from continuing with or participating in the strike, or to embark upon any other form of industrial action.

It further prohibits the employees engaged in the illegal strike from threatening or assaulting any employee or customer of TransNamib.

Natau Secretary General, John Kwedhi, said that the union will never turn its back on its members.

“We will revise the court order and inform our members accordingly, but the final decision lies with our members,” he said.

He stressed that the strike was not issued by the union and that TransNamib management did not inform the union beforehand about the new salary structure being implemented.

“The management and the board should be held accountable. The country is depending on TransNamib and they are destroying our economy,” said Kwedhi.

A Windhoek-based TransNamib employee told Namibian Sun, that employees had a meeting with Natau immediately after the court case and that the union will now take over the case.
Meanwhile, TransNamib issued a press statement on Friday raising its concern that the initiative to replace the outdated salary structure and to improve talent and skills retention has been met with suspicion, resistance and distrust.

“It is unfortunate that this initiative is now being used to instigate and incite workers. The employees that are taking part in this illegal action are in contravention of the Labour Act 11 of 2007 and / or the recognition agreement that is in place,” the statement read.

“Such illegal action is not only grossly irresponsible, but it is sabotaging the Namibian economy and damaging the image of both the company and the country.”

Management apparentely only became aware of the dissatisfaction amongst employees regarding the implementation of the new salary structure after action was taken by the workers on January 27, 2012.

Ailly Hangulla- Pauino, Corporate Communications Officer at TransNamib yesterday noted that management will ensure that the court order is complied with immediately. She said management also remains open to discussions with a view of resolving the matter regarding the new salary structure.

click to enlarge URGENT: TransNamib brought an urgent interdict before the court to declare the country-wide strike of the past few days illegal