24 Unam employees face retrenchment

THE University of Namibia has given retrenchment notice to 24 staff members working in its kitchen and laundry after plans were announced to outsource these functions.

Unam spokesperson Utaara Hoveka confirmed yesterday that Unam informed the unions in writing on the April 9 this year and again on the May 20 about the retrenchments. The staff are expected to leave the Unam employment on July 11.The Namibia National Teachers’ Union and the Namibia Public Workers’ Union subsequently asked for an audience with Unam to discuss the retrenchments.Hoveka said they had a meeting on Monday and discussions were ongoing.Nantu’s Unam branch chairperson, James Kamerika told The Namibian that they were not impressed with the way the retrenchment announcement was made.’The first option should have been for us to sit down and talk about ways to avoid retrenchments.We need to know why the functions are being outsourced.However, Unam wrote to the Labour Commissioner complaining that the unions were not cooperating,’ he said.The unions want whoever gets the outsourcing deal to take over the staff.Hoveka said the tender for the provision of the services has not been advertised yet, despite the fact that affected staff would be laid off next week Friday.Some at the University staff claimed the deal had already been given to a company in which a member of the Unam Council had an interest.However, Hoveka denied it saying such allegations were baseless and completely untrue as the tender still need to be advertised.Kamerika said the two sides have agreed that Unam will write another letter informing the unions about the procedures of the retrenchments.The unions are expected to grill Unam on reasons for the move.The staff are expected to leave the Unam employment on July 11.The Namibia National Teachers’ Union and the Namibia Public Workers’ Union subsequently asked for an audience with Unam to discuss the retrenchments.Hoveka said they had a meeting on Monday and discussions were ongoing.Nantu’s Unam branch chairperson, James Kamerika told The Namibian that they were not impressed with the way the retrenchment announcement was made.’The first option should have been for us to sit down and talk about ways to avoid retrenchments.We need to know why the functions are being outsourced.However, Unam wrote to the Labour Commissioner complaining that the unions were not cooperating,’ he said.The unions want whoever gets the outsourcing deal to take over the staff.Hoveka said the tender for the provision of the services has not been advertised yet, despite the fact that affected staff would be laid off next week Friday.Some at the University staff claimed the deal had already been given to a company in which a member of the Unam Council had an interest.However, Hoveka denied it saying such allegations were baseless and completely untrue as the tender still need to be advertised.Kamerika said the two sides have agreed that Unam will write another letter informing the unions about the procedures of the retrenchments.The unions are expected to grill Unam on reasons for the move.