Meatco workers receive more wages

WORKERS at Namibia’s largest meat processing factory Meatco agreed to a N$175 salary increase effective from end March for all employees within the company fs bargaining unit yesterday.

This amounts to about 6,1 per cent, slightly higher than the average percentage increase over the past five years, the company announced. Amidst export uncertainty to Meatco fs strongest market, the European Union, and the lowest cattle numbers in years, we came to a swift agreement concerning wage increases, h said Willem Nanub, Senior Manager Human Resources at Meatco.Usually a tug-of-war between Meatco and its labour force, the wage negotiations were completed in record time, illustrating the benefit of an employer having a smart partnership with a labour union.For the first time in four years Meatco fs employees in the bargaining unit will receive their annual increases on time, h Nanub added.According to John Paporo, branch organiser of the Namibian Food and Allied Workers f Union (Nafau), negotiations went smoothly.gThis process is not a one-man-show, it is give and take.It is important that we commit ourselves, h he said.Nafau recently made company history by becoming the first recognised union to represent Meatco fs labour force in over 20 years.This was due to the Namibian Wholesale and Retail Workers f Union campaigning simultaneously with Nafau for the support of the workers and neither union receiving the mandatory 50 plus 1 representation for recognition within the Labour Act.Amidst export uncertainty to Meatco fs strongest market, the European Union, and the lowest cattle numbers in years, we came to a swift agreement concerning wage increases, h said Willem Nanub, Senior Manager Human Resources at Meatco.Usually a tug-of-war between Meatco and its labour force, the wage negotiations were completed in record time, illustrating the benefit of an employer having a smart partnership with a labour union.For the first time in four years Meatco fs employees in the bargaining unit will receive their annual increases on time, h Nanub added.According to John Paporo, branch organiser of the Namibian Food and Allied Workers f Union (Nafau), negotiations went smoothly.gThis process is not a one-man-show, it is give and take.It is important that we commit ourselves, h he said.Nafau recently made company history by becoming the first recognised union to represent Meatco fs labour force in over 20 years.This was due to the Namibian Wholesale and Retail Workers f Union campaigning simultaneously with Nafau for the support of the workers and neither union receiving the mandatory 50 plus 1 representation for recognition within the Labour Act.