Luederitz fishing strike averted

AFTER nearly a year of negotiations with the Namibia Seamen and Allied Workers’ Union (Nasawu), Marco Fishing at Luederitz on Friday granted wage increases to 400 of its employees.

A 45 cent increase for land-based employees sees their daily pay rise from N$7,65 to N$8, while sea-going labourers can expect an increase from N$33 to N$35,50 a day, as well as a commission raise of N$1 (from N$66,50 to 67,50) per tonne of fish caught. Marco employees were all but ready to strike two weeks ago, after talks between their employer and the union had got nowhere since February, even after a conciliation board process late last month.With the conciliation board failing, workers voted in favour of a strike, which was scheduled to start last Monday.The company however bowed to union pressure during the 48-hour period preceding the industrial action, and this finally led to the signing of an agreement on Friday.The final agreement was a tough compromise, both parties say.Marco’s Managing Director, Appie Louw, told The Namibian last week that in an attempt to avert another strike, the company might have put itself at risk of a financial crisis.”We’re signing this, but it’s under a lot of pressure.You try to explain to the union, show them your financial statements, but they don’t sympathise.We were hoping to get through this year without at least the threat of a strike, (but that was not to be),” he said.The union on the other hand said it couldn’t sit by idly while the cost of living increased.”We understand the situation the company is in.But what we’re saying is that if people are doing the job for you, you should at least share the income fairly with them.Everything is going up, and the workers are becoming worse off.”When you look at the agreement, you can’t honestly say it was a win (for Nasawu), but it’s something at least,” the Nasawu regional organiser at Luederitz, Petrus Chyshiyandja, told The Namibian yesterday.As part of the agreement, 20 Marco employees have been promoted to permanent positions, while the company has also increased bonus payments for by-catches (non-quota fish) and kingklip.Marco employees were all but ready to strike two weeks ago, after talks between their employer and the union had got nowhere since February, even after a conciliation board process late last month.With the conciliation board failing, workers voted in favour of a strike, which was scheduled to start last Monday.The company however bowed to union pressure during the 48-hour period preceding the industrial action, and this finally led to the signing of an agreement on Friday.The final agreement was a tough compromise, both parties say.Marco’s Managing Director, Appie Louw, told The Namibian last week that in an attempt to avert another strike, the company might have put itself at risk of a financial crisis.”We’re signing this, but it’s under a lot of pressure.You try to explain to the union, show them your financial statements, but they don’t sympathise.We were hoping to get through this year without at least the threat of a strike, (but that was not to be),” he said.The union on the other hand said it couldn’t sit by idly while the cost of living increased.”We understand the situation the company is in.But what we’re saying is that if people are doing the job for you, you should at least share the income fairly with them.Everything is going up, and the workers are becoming worse off.”When you look at the agreement, you can’t honestly say it was a win (for Nasawu), but it’s something at least,” the Nasawu regional organiser at Luederitz, Petrus Chyshiyandja, told The Namibian yesterday.As part of the agreement, 20 Marco employees have been promoted to permanent positions, while the company has also increased bonus payments for by-catches (non-quota fish) and kingklip.