Deadlock in Namdeb wage talks

WAGE negotiations between Namdeb management and the Mineworkers’ Union of Namibia (MUN) reached deadlock on Friday.

The negotiations started on July 1. MUN Oranjemund Branch Chairman George Matali yesterday accused the company management of negotiating in bad faith.He claimed that the company’s negotiations team had walked out of the talks and prematurely declared a wage dispute.Matali said that the company’s chief negotiator, Senior Human Resource Officer Ophelia Netha, had described the union’s demands as bordering on “self-enrichment, corruption and conflict of interest”.Netha yesterday confirmed that the company had declared a wage dispute on Friday.”Our recognition agreement sets out the process to be followed to address this situation,” she said.The workers are demanding an above-inflation wage rise of 16,5 per cent, backdated to April, for its members at Oranjemund, Windhoek Head Office and Luederitz.The company has offered nine per cent.Matali accused Namdeb of offering “unrealistic excuses” ranging from declining production to higher taxes for not offering a bigger increase.Both parties indicated their willingness to continue negotiating, and the talks are planned to resume on July 25.MUN Oranjemund Branch Chairman George Matali yesterday accused the company management of negotiating in bad faith.He claimed that the company’s negotiations team had walked out of the talks and prematurely declared a wage dispute.Matali said that the company’s chief negotiator, Senior Human Resource Officer Ophelia Netha, had described the union’s demands as bordering on “self-enrichment, corruption and conflict of interest”.Netha yesterday confirmed that the company had declared a wage dispute on Friday.”Our recognition agreement sets out the process to be followed to address this situation,” she said.The workers are demanding an above-inflation wage rise of 16,5 per cent, backdated to April, for its members at Oranjemund, Windhoek Head Office and Luederitz.The company has offered nine per cent.Matali accused Namdeb of offering “unrealistic excuses” ranging from declining production to higher taxes for not offering a bigger increase.Both parties indicated their willingness to continue negotiating, and the talks are planned to resume on July 25.