Striking fishermen stranded

Many striking fishermen have resumed their duties on fishing vessels while the majority of those engaged in the illegal strike for better wages say they are feeling the pinch and getting worried about the wellbeing of their families. “The ongoing strike is affecting us badly. We are men with families to feed and face numerous problems such as paying rent and other debts, which are accumulating,” they say. “It will be a dreadful festive season. Our families have expectations. We are the sole providers and breadwinners. The strike is now going on for longer than a month and we will be left without a stable income soon. “Some of us recently went back to our companies to look at options upon invitation from management. We attended disciplinary hearings in early December and were fired unceremoniously for participating in the illegal strike action after 12 years of service. Various skippers approached many of us and requested that we return to our jobs earlier but we did not take them seriously. It is now clear that all those involved in the strike will be dismissed.” In response to a question about the ongoing strike and its effects fisheries minister Bernhard Esau called it a devastating experience and said it severely affected the industry. He expressed the hope that canning factories had secured enough fish at cold-storage facilities to ensure continued supply. “The season commenced in November. Considerable time has been lost and the fact that some of the strikers have returned to work is a positive sign. Most companies generate money during the last part of the year,” Esau said. The Mining, Maritime, Metal and Construction (MMMC) union president, Immanuel Petrus, says everybody in the industry is feeling the pinch and the workers are coping under difficult circumstances. A court case to nullify an agreement signed earlier this year between the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation, industry stakeholders and recognised unions has been postponed to February 10. “The way forward is quite simple. The striking workers do not want to return to work in the same unfavourable conditions they want improved. More than 205 workers returned to their jobs after Overberg Fishing, Embwida Fishing, Ekikimbo Trawling and Rainbow Trawling reached an interim agreement with terms to be renegotiated in January 2016. “The majority of companies have however not approached us for talks. The [agreement] does not serve the interest of the workers. Forced labour and slavery are prohibited by the Constitution and recognition agreements do not always solve problems,” the union leader said. Petrus said Marco Fishing recently approached about 30 workers to return to their jobs but the conditions it stipulated overstepped the boundaries of the Labour Act and the union advised its members accordingly. According to Namibian Fisheries Industry & Fishermen Workers Union (NFI&FWU) president Daniel Imbili, some fishing companies conducted disciplinary hearings early in December and resolved to dismiss workers for participating in the strike. Hangana fired 108 and Namsov dismissed 34 workers. A fired fisherman said he would receive his pension after a six-week waiting period. “It is a long process and I urgently need money now since I lost the little security I had. I am left with no option than to start from scratch again and will look for another job. “I cannot just sit and wait for feedback from the union while my family go hungry. What if the outcome is not in our favour? I was recently offered another job but could not take it due to unfinished issues at home. It would be wrong for me to leave my wife with this huge burden of taking care of the family.” Matti Amukwa, chairman of the Confederation of Namibian Fishing Associations, says the strike forced the industry to operate at a reduced capacity. “The strike by approximately 800 fishermen is affecting the industry, the country and workers negatively with fewer raw materials to process at factories. Some workers returned to work to face disciplinary hearings and ensure they have a job and income,” Amukwa said. OTIS FINCK