Pre- and post-independence trade unionism
The approach of Namibian Football Players Union (NAFPU) to serve their members and represent all football players' pleas to the Namibian Football Association (NFA) is an example of what an ideal trade union should be. Trade unions according to the Labour Act of 2007 require all trade unions to regulate relations between employees, soccer players and their employers Namibian Premier League (NPL). Trade unions would indulge in all types of strikes and engagements to benefit their members more especially when remuneration, conditions and the socio-political environment of their members are compromised.
In essence trade unions arose from workers' demands from their employers for better wages and better work conditions. Trade unions in Namibia are arguably likely to suffer all kind of challenges. Similar challenges can be traced to the 18th to mid-19th centuries when they faced legal challenges and the harsh laws that were passed to limit their ability, such as regulations on wages and conditions as they were regarded to be in the jurisdictions of the law makers and the courts and not the trade union per se. Some academics would argue that trade unions are seen as unjustifiably interfering in disputes which courts could resolve, that the issues of wages were matters of economic laws of demand and supply and that wages should be determined by the free labour market and not the trade unions.
However, there are several trade unions in operation today in Namibia, such as the craft union, industrial union, public sector union, professional unions, white collar unions and the general unions. Pre-independence unions in Namibia could be traced back to the 1920s when the first trade union called South African Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (I.C.U.) was formed. This union was mainly there to represent the coloured people in Lüderitz and most of the secretariats were from the Union of South Africa, now known as the Republic of South Africa. The union faced a lot of social, economic and legal battles and it subsequently failed. In the 1950s the South West African Student Body (SWASB) was formed and its major goal was to represent the student of South West Africa who were studying in the Republic of South Africa and in Namibia, and its secondary aim was to advocate against the contract labour system and abolish it. Namibians of the 1950s were not allowed to form or join in labour unions and this prompted intellectuals such as Andimba Toivo ya Toivo to form the Ovambo People's Organisation and later, renamed to the South West African People Organisation (Swapo). They were also advocating against the contract labour systems which were harsh. On 24 April 1970, Swapo formed the first trade union called the National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW) and it was constituted under the Labour Department. By the 1970s NUNW had branches in major towns in Namibia. NUNW mobilised some of the major strikes in the 1970s and advocated against the working conditions of the workers such as the pass, poor accommodation, food, employment contracts and wages. Following another strike in 1978 the Wiehahn Commission recognised African trade unions in Namibia, and this led to the formation of trade unions such as NAFAU, NATAU, NAPWU, MUN, NANTU and many other unions that were affiliated to the NUNW as a federation. It is important to know that before 1990, trade unions had a secondary objective and that was to contribute to the liberation struggle of Namibia.
In post-independent Namibia, trade unions are considered to have lost their mandate and are generally considered to be unreliable. The constitution caters for the rights of individuals to join any association of their choice.
Employers tend to bully their employees from joining any association of their choice. Clearly the constitution of Namibia is being violated by employers, as can be clearly seen by some soccer players being threatened by club owners from joining the NAFPU for example. There are challenges that post-independence trade unions face, such as lack of funds. Some unions find it hard to act independently as they did prior to independence as they are affiliated to the employer or the government. The affiliation of union to the government makes it hard for the union to challenge labour policies and unfair practices.
As many organisations are facing financial crises, retrenchment is at the centre of many businesses.
This makes it hard for trade unions to survive financially to fuel their operations. Some trade unions' positions are compromised in representing their members as some union secretariat members are on the boards of some companies and this makes it hard for trade unions to engage objectively with different organisations. It is therefore the constitutional right of any Namibian to participate or to associate with any political party, trade union and civil society of one's choice.
*Brian Ngutjinazo has a Bachelor's degree in commerce from the University of Namibia and is currently registered for Honours in Political Science
In essence trade unions arose from workers' demands from their employers for better wages and better work conditions. Trade unions in Namibia are arguably likely to suffer all kind of challenges. Similar challenges can be traced to the 18th to mid-19th centuries when they faced legal challenges and the harsh laws that were passed to limit their ability, such as regulations on wages and conditions as they were regarded to be in the jurisdictions of the law makers and the courts and not the trade union per se. Some academics would argue that trade unions are seen as unjustifiably interfering in disputes which courts could resolve, that the issues of wages were matters of economic laws of demand and supply and that wages should be determined by the free labour market and not the trade unions.
However, there are several trade unions in operation today in Namibia, such as the craft union, industrial union, public sector union, professional unions, white collar unions and the general unions. Pre-independence unions in Namibia could be traced back to the 1920s when the first trade union called South African Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (I.C.U.) was formed. This union was mainly there to represent the coloured people in Lüderitz and most of the secretariats were from the Union of South Africa, now known as the Republic of South Africa. The union faced a lot of social, economic and legal battles and it subsequently failed. In the 1950s the South West African Student Body (SWASB) was formed and its major goal was to represent the student of South West Africa who were studying in the Republic of South Africa and in Namibia, and its secondary aim was to advocate against the contract labour system and abolish it. Namibians of the 1950s were not allowed to form or join in labour unions and this prompted intellectuals such as Andimba Toivo ya Toivo to form the Ovambo People's Organisation and later, renamed to the South West African People Organisation (Swapo). They were also advocating against the contract labour systems which were harsh. On 24 April 1970, Swapo formed the first trade union called the National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW) and it was constituted under the Labour Department. By the 1970s NUNW had branches in major towns in Namibia. NUNW mobilised some of the major strikes in the 1970s and advocated against the working conditions of the workers such as the pass, poor accommodation, food, employment contracts and wages. Following another strike in 1978 the Wiehahn Commission recognised African trade unions in Namibia, and this led to the formation of trade unions such as NAFAU, NATAU, NAPWU, MUN, NANTU and many other unions that were affiliated to the NUNW as a federation. It is important to know that before 1990, trade unions had a secondary objective and that was to contribute to the liberation struggle of Namibia.
In post-independent Namibia, trade unions are considered to have lost their mandate and are generally considered to be unreliable. The constitution caters for the rights of individuals to join any association of their choice.
Employers tend to bully their employees from joining any association of their choice. Clearly the constitution of Namibia is being violated by employers, as can be clearly seen by some soccer players being threatened by club owners from joining the NAFPU for example. There are challenges that post-independence trade unions face, such as lack of funds. Some unions find it hard to act independently as they did prior to independence as they are affiliated to the employer or the government. The affiliation of union to the government makes it hard for the union to challenge labour policies and unfair practices.
As many organisations are facing financial crises, retrenchment is at the centre of many businesses.
This makes it hard for trade unions to survive financially to fuel their operations. Some trade unions' positions are compromised in representing their members as some union secretariat members are on the boards of some companies and this makes it hard for trade unions to engage objectively with different organisations. It is therefore the constitutional right of any Namibian to participate or to associate with any political party, trade union and civil society of one's choice.
*Brian Ngutjinazo has a Bachelor's degree in commerce from the University of Namibia and is currently registered for Honours in Political Science
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