College staff to strike

EMPLOYEES of the Windhoek College of Education (WCE) and other colleges of education across the country have threatened to strike on Friday unless Government agrees to their salary demands.

During a demonstration at the WCE yesterday, disgruntled lecturers said after consultations with colleges in other regions, a decision was taken to boycott classes on Friday, which is graduation day. According to the steering committee leader of the country’s four teachers’ colleges, Liswani Simasiku, the ir grievances date back to 2003.Government was ignoring their pleas and had told them to wait for the next financial year, Simasiku said.”We have spoken to all the parties involved including the Namibia National Teachers Union (Nantu) and the Government, which we discovered can only take issues seriously when threatened with industrial action.”Nantu is siding with Government.What are we supposed to do …we have children to look after and the standard of living is ever increasing.The only solution is to down tools.”According to the steering committee leader of the country’s four teachers’ colleges, Liswani Simasiku, the ir grievances date back to 2003.Government was ignoring their pleas and had told them to wait for the next financial year, Simasiku said.”We have spoken to all the parties involved including the Namibia National Teachers Union (Nantu) and the Government, which we discovered can only take issues seriously when threatened with industrial action.”Nantu is siding with Government.What are we supposed to do …we have children to look after and the standard of living is ever increasing.The only solution is to down tools.”