EDITORIAL: Bring back the trade union swag

There was a time when the trade union movement stood among the most powerful forces in Namibian society.

Employers dreaded receiving a letter from a union. Government ministers knew they would be challenged when policies threatened workers' interests. The labour movement was respected because it was fearless, organised and unwavering in its defence of employees.

Trade unions were not always popular, but they were always relevant.

Even unions with historical ties to the ruling party understood that their primary constituency was the worker on the factory floor. Political affiliation never eclipsed their responsibility to defend the rights and welfare of their members. Workers felt represented.

Today, that influence appears to have diminished. Instead of leading national conversations about wages, working conditions, labour law reform and the future of employment, many unions seem trapped in internal leadership battles, court cases and disputes over positions. The focus has shifted from workers' rights to organisational politics.

At the same time, the labour movement has become increasingly commercialised. Several unions now own significant stakes in major businesses and investment companies. Financial sustainability is important, and there is nothing inherently wrong with unions building wealth to support their activities. But when unions become major employers themselves, an uncomfortable contradiction emerges. They become part of the very class whose power they were established to balance.

Perhaps the clearest indication of this vacuum is that many workers now seek help from independent labour activists rather than established unions. These activists often operate without offices, formal recognition or institutional resources, yet they have become the first port of call for employees who feel abandoned.

The labour movement once inspired confidence because it was defined by courage, independence and purpose. It is time to rediscover those qualities. Workers deserve nothing less.