Namdeb Threatening Legal Action Against Union

(IDEX Online News) – Namdeb is threatening to take the Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) to court over its ongoing strike. According to Namdeb CEO Zaamwani-Kamwi, the strike, which has moved into its fifth day, is costing the company and the government about N$10 million ($930,000) a day and that it could lead to the closure of the company, reports The Namibian.

Some 745 workers walked out after Namdeb and the MUN failed to reach agreement over increased wages and benefits.

The Namibian reported that Namdeb has offered a 10-percent across the board increase for all employees in the bargaining unit and that all employees would receive a 14 percent housing increase in the bargaining.

It also offered a 70/30 increase on medical aid payments; however, the MUN has demanded an 80/20 increase. The company also offered an inflation plus 1 percent increase for 2015 and 2016, while the union also made additional demands regarding payment of education fees, the newspaper reported.

Yesterday, Namdeb’s lawyer sent a letter to the chairperson of the MUN, Shavuka Mbidhi, in which it said that the strike was affecting two essential emergency services crucial to its operations – the seawalls and mining de-watering. In the letter, Namdeb said, “Failure to perform emergency services such as seawalls and mining de-watering (pumping) that should be vigilantly maintained, might result in loss of life and destruction of a national asset due to the strike.”