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Thursday, August 21, 2008 - Web posted at 8:15:22 AM GMT TransNamib workers threaten strike CHRISTOF MALETSKYTRANSNAMIB'S board and workers have reached a stalemate, with a strike looming after the board refused to withdraw the suspension of CEO Titus Haimbili. |
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The Namibia Transport and Allied Workers' Union (Natau) had given the company two days to rescind its decision to place Haimbili on "special leave" but an emergency board meeting on Tuesday night decided to stand firm on the decision. "No person is above the law, and as such all irregularities raised with the board, which warrant an investigation, will be dealt with accordingly and within the parameters of the law, company policies and procedures," board chairman Festus Lameck said in a statement issued after the meeting. The board appointed Marketing General Manager Mike Kavekotora to act as CEO during Haimbili's suspension. The board's response prompted Natau president Dawid Tjombe to declare war on the company. "In that case, we will continue with the preparations to withdraw our labour. Our demands stand. That includes the call for the board to go. They have a hidden agenda," he said. Tjombe said all shop stewards would meet today to decide on the date for the national strike. Natau leaders briefed workers in Windhoek about the board's response yesterday. Tjombe was not sure exactly when the strike would take place. "We need to follow certain provisions in the Labour Act like giving the company notice. We also want to ensure that all our workers countrywide know about the date and time for the strike. It must be well co-ordinated," he said. On Monday, the workers accused Lameck of acting with a conflict of interest since he had also applied for the job before Haimbili was appointed. The first sitting the new board placed Haimbili on two months' "special leave" in order to investigate allegations related to corporate governance. Sources said Haimbili might have appointed individuals whom he favoured above those who did well in job interviews. Tjombe demanded that the board publicly reveal the allegations being investigated against Haimbili and that the union be represented on the investigation team. Lameck said the union, through its General Secretary John Kwedhi, had been briefed about Haimbili's suspension before it was announced. "The union indicated that they would await the outcome of the investigation against Mr Haimbili. It is, therefore, surprising to learn of the demands and statements made by the union relating to the suspension of the board and reinstatement of the CEO, Mr Haimbili, through the media," Lameck said. He called on the union to exercise restraint and to "be careful not to unduly incite workers, clients and the general public". Lameck said Haimbili was suspended after the board had consulted with "relevant stakeholders" and the company would not be "distracted by individuals who seem clearly to be pushing an agenda of their own" and refusing to allow fairness, transparency and accountability to prevail. Tjombe said they were surprised that the Ministry of Works accepted the board's explanation without double-checking with the union. "We suspect that they have been misinformed and find it a bit disappointing that they just accepted the word from the board. Anyway, that will not prevent us from taking the matter further," he said. Workers claimed they were inspired by the progress the company had made during Haimbili's first six months and believed that it was yet another case of a TransNamib chairperson attempting to run the company in an acting CEO capacity, as had happened in the past. Kwedhi charged that personal or hidden agendas had prevented the company from performing well in the past and the workers had had enough of that. |
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