Natau and Falcon sign agreement

OSHAKATIPLACIDO HILUKILWA The Namibia Transport and Allied Workers Union (Natau) signed a recognition agreement with Falcon Security at Oshakati on Monday. According to the agreement the security company recognizes Natau as sole bargaining agent on behalf of Falcon employees. "We are looking forward to working hand in hand with Falcon Security for the betterment of the employees," said Helvy Hamukoshi, Natau's regional coordinator in Oshana. According to Hamukoshi the recognition agreement is a mere formality because there has always been a good understanding between the union and the company. The head of Falcon Security, Carl de Beer, said his company has always had an open-door policy for its employees. "Employees will now be able to use their union representatives to solve any problems amicably," he said. He said Falcon Security - previously Rubicon Security - started with 200 employees ten years ago, but is now the proud employer of approximately 700 workers, making it one of the biggest security companies in Namibia and one with an extensive range of infrastructure, including several branches throughout the northern regions. "We recognise Natau as the sole bargaining agent and hope that this agreement will lead to the betterment of employer-employee relations and smooth the way towards mutual understanding and better communication," De Beer said, adding that both the company and the union have joint responsibility of ensuring the wellbeing of the workers. De Beer said the company had a recognition agreement with Natau some years ago but it was cancelled due to circumstances that he did not specify. Meanwhile, Natau's branch organiser at Oshakati John Hinyekwa said the previous agreement was cancelled when the number of Natau members at Falcon dropped drastically before it picked up again in recent years.