Labour unions attack Pupkewitz Group

AN umbrella labour organisation has threatened a leading Namibian company with a consumer boycott and industrial action, if it refuses to increase the salaries of some of its workers.

According to the National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW), negotiations with the motoring division of the Pupkewitz Group reached a deadlock last month. The company offered a 4,5 per cent increase, while some 200 members of the Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union (Manwu) demanded 10 per cent, the union said.”We urge the Pupkewitz Group to return to the negotiating table before we call on a work stoppage as well as a national consumer boycott,” Evilastus Kaaronda, NUNW Secretary General, said at the end of last week.According to Kaaronda, all procedures were followed.According to Manwu Secretary General Moses Shiikwa, the 212 members working at the motor division requested a pay rise at the beginning of this year.”The two managers we negotiated with, Mike Hill and Junior Bruwer, told us the Group had made less profits due to the increasing import of used Japanese vehicles into Namibia.Management refused to open their books for scrutiny, arguing they were not a public company.”Shiikwa however admitted that employees at the motor division of the Group received a five per cent salary increase last year.Kaaronda further alleged that the Pupkewitz company did not employ black managers and failed to comply with the Affirmative Action policy, which is overseen by the Employment Equity Commission.”We strongly call on the Government to call Mr Harold Pupkewitz and his business to order and have them comply with Affirmative Action,” he said.Ninety-one-year-old company boss Harold Pupkewitz said he was “surprised and concerned” to learn that the NUNW had made public statements about the ongoing wage negotiations between the Pupkewitz Motor Division and Manwu.”This statement, if made with Manwu’s agreement, is in direct contravention of Clause 11 of the recognition agreement we signed with Manwu on October 8 2004,” Pupkewitz told The Namibian.”The agreement states, ‘In any matter in dispute concerning the relationship between Pupkewitz Motor Division and Manwu, no approach shall be made by either party to the press or the media without reasonable prior notice to the other party’,” Pupkewitz said.”All agreements rely on both partners to adhere to the agreed procedures as a basis for developing a sound and harmonious relationship based on mutual trust and respect.”Manwu shop stewards sat on the motor division affirmative action consultative committee, which met quarterly, Pupkewitz said.”The last meeting was last week, on August 4.”Pupkewitz further told this newspaper that he was surprised that the NUNW had not revealed to the media that the Pupkewitz Motor Division’s salaries were highly competitive: a labourer in the middle of the A1 Scale category – the lowest job grade – earned N$1 955 a month plus company contributions to the pension fund and an annual bonus.”The absolute minimum rate of pay – for a totally inexperienced new recruit – is N$1 500 per month plus the mentioned benefits,” Pupkewitz said.In his view, Manwu had provided no justification for the demanded increase.Manwu demanded a 33 per cent increase and an increase of the transport allowance, the company said.”After many meetings and two Conciliation Board meetings, the issue remains deadlocked with Manwu demanding a salary increase of 18 per cent plus a 50 per cent increased transport allowance for employees in the Paterson A-Band and a 17 per cent pay rise plus 50 per cent increase in transport allowance for employees in the Paterson B-Band,” according to Pupkewitz.The labour union should know how the employment conditions of Pupkewitz compared to the Namibian labour market and should base its claims accordingly, he added.The company offered a 4,5 per cent increase, while some 200 members of the Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union (Manwu) demanded 10 per cent, the union said.”We urge the Pupkewitz Group to return to the negotiating table before we call on a work stoppage as well as a national consumer boycott,” Evilastus Kaaronda, NUNW Secretary General, said at the end of last week.According to Kaaronda, all procedures were followed.According to Manwu Secretary General Moses Shiikwa, the 212 members working at the motor division requested a pay rise at the beginning of this year.”The two managers we negotiated with, Mike Hill and Junior Bruwer, told us the Group had made less profits due to the increasing import of used Japanese vehicles into Namibia.Management refused to open their books for scrutiny, arguing they were not a public company.”Shiikwa however admitted that employees at the motor division of the Group received a five per cent salary increase last year.Kaaronda further alleged that the Pupkewitz company did not employ black managers and failed to comply with the Affirmative Action policy, which is overseen by the Employment Equity Commission.”We strongly call on the Government to call Mr Harold Pupkewitz and his business to order and have them comply with Affirmative Action,” he said.Ninety-one-year-old company boss Harold Pupkewitz said he was “surprised and concerned” to learn that the NUNW had made public statements about the ongoing wage negotiations between the Pupkewitz Motor Division and Manwu.”This statement, if made with Manwu’s agreement, is in direct contravention of Clause 11 of the recognition agreement we signed with Manwu on October 8 2004,” Pupkewitz told The Namibian.”The agreement states, ‘In any matter in dispute concerning the relationship between Pupkewitz Motor Division and Manwu, no approach shall be made by either party to the press or the media without reasonable prior notice to the other party’,” Pupkewitz said.”All agreements rely on both partners to adhere to the agreed procedures as a basis for developing a sound and harmonious relationship based on mutual trust and respect.”Manwu shop stewards sat on the motor division affirmative action consultative committee, which met quarterly, Pupkewitz said.”The last meeting was last week, on August 4.”Pupkewitz further told this newspaper that he was surprised that the NUNW had not revealed to the media that the Pupkewitz Motor Division’s salaries were highly competitive: a labourer in the middle of the A1 Scale category – the lowest job grade – earned N$1 955 a month plus company contributions to the pension fund and an annual bonus.”The absolute minimum rate of pay – for a totally inexperienced new recruit – is N$1 500 per month plus the mentioned benefits,” Pupkewitz said.In his view, Manwu had provided no justification for the demanded increase.Manwu demanded a 33 per cent increase and an increase of the transport allowance, the company said.”After many meetings and two Conciliation Board meetings, the issue remains deadlocked with Manwu demanding a salary increase of 18 per cent plus a 50 per cent increased transport allowance for employees in the Paterson A-Band and a 17 per cent pay rise plus 50 per cent increase in transport allowance for employees in the Paterson B-Band,” according to Pupkewitz.The labour union should know how the employment conditions of Pupkewitz compared to the Namibian labour market and should base its claims accordingly, he added.