Nantu stops paying NUNW fees

THE National Union of Namibian Workers will soon hold a crucial meeting to discuss the status of one of its affiliates, the Namibia National Teachers’ Union, which suspended the payment of membership fees in the aftermath of the union federation’s recent congress.

Nantu Secretary General Miriam Hamutenya wrote to NUNW General Secretary Evilastus Kaaronda informing him that her union would no longer pay affiliation fees because of the way its delegates were treated at the NUNW congress. Some of the Nantu and Mineworkers’ Union of Namibia delegates walked out of the congress after repeated attempts to have their proposals heard were shot down and they were relegated to mere spectators.Nantu President Ndapewa Nghipandulwa said the NUNW constitution clearly stated that affiliates that were not in good standing had no right to vote at the congress or to nominate candidates.However, unions that had not paid their dues received “special treatment because they fit the agendas of certain individuals”, she claimed.When Nantu tried to raise the issue, Nghipandulwa said, no attention was paid to it.The same people were the ones who refused to allow suspended acting Secretary General Peter Naholo from being given the floor to address the congress, she noted.Nantu and MUN demanded clarity on the “real” reasons behind Naholo’s suspension but the Namibia Public Workers’ Union (Napwu) and the Namibia Food and Allied Workers’ Union (Nafau) refused to discuss the issue.In the letter to Kaaronda, also copied to the Labour Commissioner, Hamutenya claimed the umbrella federation had no respect for its own constitution.”It is on this ground that Nantu stops its affiliation fees to NUNW until further notice, because it is clear from the analysis above that whether you pay monthly affiliation fees or not, your status remains the same in NUNW,” she said.According to Hamutenya, only Nantu and the Namibia Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Natau) had paid all their fees since the 2002 congress while the Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) and the Namibia Food and Allied Workers’ Union (Nafau) were one month and three months in arrears respectively.The rest, including Napwu, owed six or more months’ dues, she said.The NUNW Constitution states that any affiliate in arrears for more than three months shall be deemed as in not good standing and thus will have no voting rights or representation at the congress.Sources in the NUNW said they were enraged by Nantu’s attitude and way of doing things.”We fail to understand why they went public with a notice.The Labour Commissioner also had nothing to do with the issue,” said one leader.NUNW will have a meeting where they are expected to seek clarity from Nantu about their action.Nantu leaders were also split on the decision to go public with the issue, although Hamutenya had the backing of the union’s President Nghipandulwa.Its Deputy Secretary General, Basilius Haingura, said last week that he was not aware of the decision.The NUNW congress was marked by verbal abuse and fighting.At one stage, security forces had to be called in to maintain order.Some of the Nantu and Mineworkers’ Union of Namibia delegates walked out of the congress after repeated attempts to have their proposals heard were shot down and they were relegated to mere spectators.Nantu President Ndapewa Nghipandulwa said the NUNW constitution clearly stated that affiliates that were not in good standing had no right to vote at the congress or to nominate candidates.However, unions that had not paid their dues received “special treatment because they fit the agendas of certain individuals”, she claimed.When Nantu tried to raise the issue, Nghipandulwa said, no attention was paid to it.The same people were the ones who refused to allow suspended acting Secretary General Peter Naholo from being given the floor to address the congress, she noted.Nantu and MUN demanded clarity on the “real” reasons behind Naholo’s suspension but the Namibia Public Workers’ Union (Napwu) and the Namibia Food and Allied Workers’ Union (Nafau) refused to discuss the issue.In the letter to Kaaronda, also copied to the Labour Commissioner, Hamutenya claimed the umbrella federation had no respect for its own constitution.”It is on this ground that Nantu stops its affiliation fees to NUNW until further notice, because it is clear from the analysis above that whether you pay monthly affiliation fees or not, your status remains the same in NUNW,” she said.According to Hamutenya, only Nantu and the Namibia Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Natau) had paid all their fees since the 2002 congress while the Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) and the Namibia Food and Allied Workers’ Union (Nafau) were one month and three months in arrears respectively.The rest, including Napwu, owed six or more months’ dues, she said.The NUNW Constitution states that any affiliate in arrears for more than three months shall be deemed as in not good standing and thus will have no voting rights or representation at the congress.Sources in the NUNW said they were enraged by Nantu’s attitude and way of doing things.”We fail to understand why they went public with a notice.The Labour Commissioner also had nothing to do with the issue,” said one leader.NUNW will have a meeting where they are expected to seek clarity from Nantu about their action.Nantu leaders were also split on the decision to go public with the issue, although Hamutenya had the backing of the union’s President Nghipandulwa.Its Deputy Secretary General, Basilius Haingura, said last week that he was not aware of the decision.The NUNW congress was marked by verbal abuse and fighting.At one stage, security forces had to be called in to maintain order.