Lecturers take aim at Nantu

LECTURERS at Namibia’s four teachers’ training colleges are furious with the Namibia National Teachers’ Union (Nantu) after the union told them that it doesn’t have enough members at the colleges to represent them.

A union needs the support of 50 per cent plus one worker at an institution to qualify as bargaining agent. The lecturers had pinned their hopes on Nantu to help them negotiate with Government on their long-standing demand for salary increases.On Wednesday, Nantu Secretary General Basilius Haingura informed the lecturers that the only way their salary scales could be adjusted would be as part of a re-grading process for all civil servants.Haingura said in the letter that Nantu only has seven members at the Windhoek College of Education, seven at the Caprivi College of Education, 13 at the Rundu College of Education and 26 members at the Ongwediva College of Education.The lecturers had pinned their hopes on Nantu to help them negotiate with Government on their long-standing demand for salary increases.On Wednesday, Nantu Secretary General Basilius Haingura informed the lecturers that the only way their salary scales could be adjusted would be as part of a re-grading process for all civil servants.Haingura said in the letter that Nantu only has seven members at the Windhoek College of Education, seven at the Caprivi College of Education, 13 at the Rundu College of Education and 26 members at the Ongwediva College of Education.