Union's women and youth focus proves valuable

WINDHOEK DENVER ISAACS
Industries such as construction, electrical engineering and woodcraft are not traditionally associated with strong female representation.
In fact, in Namibia, only 0,9% of the workforce in these industries, who are represented by the Metal and Allied Namibian Workers' Union (Manwu), are female.
Considering this, the achievement of the union's youngest ever and first female secretary-general, Justina Jonas, is nothing short of impressive.
Having taken over the union's lead role last year at the age of 34, Jonas says she has made it a point to return Manwu to its glorious heyday, which to a large degree is dependent on mobilising the youth.
If you look at the union around 2003, we were really struggling, she says, recalling her time as a branch organiser.
I guess the strategy then was not very attractive to workers. Though when in 2007 we came to the decision to go back to the basics, going door to door, and educating workers on the role of the union, we really saw a marked improvement, she says.
In 2007, she recalls, Manwu's membership stood at 3 188 members, compared to its current membership figure of over 15 000.
Engaging young people was key. The youth dominate the labour market. But they don't necessarily know the idea behind unionisation, she says.
This is compounded in the case of women in her union's focal industries.
Culturally, there seems to be the expectation of women to wake up, go to work, and go home to their husband straight afterwards. So becoming a union member, where is that time to get involved? It is a topic under discussion worldwide, this issue of culture, she says.
In the industry itself, one must also consider that women often make up the administration or cleaning staff, and are not necessarily part of the core industry itself, she says.
The fact that herself and others had moved up the union ranks in their industries, she says, can be traced back to unionisation and workplace training.
With Workers' Day being celebrated tomorrow, Jonas says she only has one core message for workers that she hopes will be valued.
My message to the workers of this country is simple. This year, no single worker must go to work for overtime. You must come together and through unity pass our message to those passing the country's laws. If you are quiet, your voice will not be heard. Let May Day be the day for the workers. Not for drinking beer. Not for sleeping until dawn. Not for collecting overtime. Those who cannot join the Keetmanshoop celebrations, you can still organise yourselves in your towns, in your neighbourhoods, and channel your message through to your union representation.