Meatco workers end strike

WORKERS at Meatco’s Windhoek abattoir have gone back to work while their representatives are still trying to iron out a dispute over unpaid overtime.

Meatco’s spokesperson Uschi //Hoebes said the cattle that stood over on Monday were all slaughtered on Tuesday together with that day’s numbers. “Employees have not yet received feedback from their union ((Namibia Wholesale and Retail Workers Union) as promised.Everything seem to have gone back to normal,” said //Hoebes.Employees went on strike on Monday after the company refused to pay them for overtime they did not work.Employees from the slaughter-floor downed tools and demanded that the company pay back the money that it deducted from them for the April 13 to 16 week that they did not work overtime.During that week the company was forced to reduce its slaughter quota from 450 cattle per day to 250 cattle a day.The number has since gone back to normal.The NWRWU consulted the Office of the Labour Commissioner before going back to the Government-owned SWA Meat Corporation.Meatco deducted money from some employees whom it claimed only worked approximately five hours a day while earning money for nine hours.”Employees have not yet received feedback from their union ((Namibia Wholesale and Retail Workers Union) as promised.Everything seem to have gone back to normal,” said //Hoebes.Employees went on strike on Monday after the company refused to pay them for overtime they did not work.Employees from the slaughter-floor downed tools and demanded that the company pay back the money that it deducted from them for the April 13 to 16 week that they did not work overtime.During that week the company was forced to reduce its slaughter quota from 450 cattle per day to 250 cattle a day.The number has since gone back to normal.The NWRWU consulted the Office of the Labour Commissioner before going back to the Government-owned SWA Meat Corporation.Meatco deducted money from some employees whom it claimed only worked approximately five hours a day while earning money for nine hours.