SALARY negotiations between Keetmanshoop Town Council and the Namibia Public Workers’ Union (Napwu) ended without an agreement on Tuesday.
The union demanded a 17 per cent salary increase across the board, but the cash-strapped Town Council says it cannot grant any increase. Napwu Deputy Secretary Gabes Andumba said he was bitterly disappointed with the Council’s stance.He said if the Council refused to budge, a strike could not be ruled out, but emphasised that the union’s door remained open for negotiations.”The union is prepared to drop the 17 per cent demand to anywhere,” he said.The Keetmanshoop Town Council blames earlier salary increases, which were not matched by higher revenue for the municipality, for its weak financial position.The municipality’s payroll – about N$11 million a year – currently accounts for 41 per cent of its total expenditure, up from 25.40 per cent in 2001.According to the minutes of Tuesday’s meeting, the Town Council projects annual revenue of N$28 million and expenditure of N$26 million for the current financial year.It also came to light that the Auditor General’s Office has warned that the Town Council could be downgraded to a Village Council if its financial situation did not improve.In fact, the Council says it might have to lay off people to make ends meet.Andumba warned at the meeting that layoffs would prove to be “costly” for the Council.The Mayor of Keetmanshoop, Simon Petrus Tiboth, declined to comment on the remark.Napwu Deputy Secretary Gabes Andumba said he was bitterly disappointed with the Council’s stance.He said if the Council refused to budge, a strike could not be ruled out, but emphasised that the union’s door remained open for negotiations.”The union is prepared to drop the 17 per cent demand to anywhere,” he said.The Keetmanshoop Town Council blames earlier salary increases, which were not matched by higher revenue for the municipality, for its weak financial position.The municipality’s payroll – about N$11 million a year – currently accounts for 41 per cent of its total expenditure, up from 25.40 per cent in 2001.According to the minutes of Tuesday’s meeting, the Town Council projects annual revenue of N$28 million and expenditure of N$26 million for the current financial year.It also came to light that the Auditor General’s Office has warned that the Town Council could be downgraded to a Village Council if its financial situation did not improve.In fact, the Council says it might have to lay off people to make ends meet.Andumba warned at the meeting that layoffs would prove to be “costly” for the Council.The Mayor of Keetmanshoop, Simon Petrus Tiboth, declined to comment on the remark.
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