Nanu gets cold shoulder from Govt

THE Ministry of Health has agreed to meet nurses today, but without the leadership of the Namibia Nurses’ Union (Nanu) being present.

Health Permanent Secretary Dr Kalumbi Shangula told The Namibian that the management would “meet the nurses as employees” to deal with threats of a demonstration being organised by Nanu. “We can’t talk to them about issues related to bargaining but I will meet all nursing staff that are able to attend the meeting on Monday [today],” Shangula said.Nanu has accused the Ministry of Health of a lack of professionalism, claiming that the refusal by leaders to meet them was “tantamount to keeping nurses hostage”.Nanu Secretary General Abner Shopati said the union was sticking to its deadline of today for the Ministry of Health to respond to its demands, and would organise a mass demonstration by nurses if Government continued refusing to meet them.”It is not a matter of organising the demonstration.Our members are ready to demonstrate.They are just waiting for a call from Nanu.We do not rule out a strike and the public will suffer.Who is to blame for that? Definitely those officials in the Ministry,” Shopati told The Namibian.He said by refusing to meet with the Nanu leadership, the Ministry of Health was acting unprofessionally.”How can somebody refuse to engage [their] own staff in discussions? Is that professional behaviour?” he asked.Last week, the Ministry of Health suggested that Nanu challenge the Namibia Public Workers’ Union (Napwu) for the status of sole bargaining agent for nurses before approaching Government to negotiate conditions of service for its members.Months after Nanu started advocating for a better deal for nurses, Shangula came out and said Nanu had no mandate to negotiate on behalf of nurses and needed to prove, through polls, that it had more support than Napwu.Once such polls had taken place, Government could enter into a recognition agreement with Nanu, he said.Labour Commissioner Bro-Mathew Shinguadja says he refused to set up a conciliation board because the Nanu request undermined the principles of the Labour Act, which states that only a union with exclusive bargaining status may negotiate conditions of service with an employer.Shopati argued that Napwu was party to the decision to reduce nurses’ overtime pay for work done on Sundays and public holidays and nurses had lost faith in the public workers’ union.”The nurses condemn both Napwu and the Ministry of Health.At this stage, Napwu is a king without followers,” Shopati said.He said Nanu had already informed the Office of the Prime Minister about the mass demonstration planned for December 6, should the Ministry of Health fail to meet them.”We can’t talk to them about issues related to bargaining but I will meet all nursing staff that are able to attend the meeting on Monday [today],” Shangula said.Nanu has accused the Ministry of Health of a lack of professionalism, claiming that the refusal by leaders to meet them was “tantamount to keeping nurses hostage”.Nanu Secretary General Abner Shopati said the union was sticking to its deadline of today for the Ministry of Health to respond to its demands, and would organise a mass demonstration by nurses if Government continued refusing to meet them. “It is not a matter of organising the demonstration.Our members are ready to demonstrate.They are just waiting for a call from Nanu.We do not rule out a strike and the public will suffer.Who is to blame for that? Definitely those officials in the Ministry,” Shopati told The Namibian.He said by refusing to meet with the Nanu leadership, the Ministry of Health was acting unprofessionally.”How can somebody refuse to engage [their] own staff in discussions? Is that professional behaviour?” he asked.Last week, the Ministry of Health suggested that Nanu challenge the Namibia Public Workers’ Union (Napwu) for the status of sole bargaining agent for nurses before approaching Government to negotiate conditions of service for its members.Months after Nanu started advocating for a better deal for nurses, Shangula came out and said Nanu had no mandate to negotiate on behalf of nurses and needed to prove, through polls, that it had more support than Napwu.Once such polls had taken place, Government could enter into a recognition agreement with Nanu, he said.Labour Commissioner Bro-Mathew Shinguadja says he refused to set up a conciliation board because the Nanu request undermined the principles of the Labour Act, which states that only a union with exclusive bargaining status may negotiate conditions of service with an employer.Shopati argued that Napwu was party to the decision to reduce nurses’ overtime pay for work done on Sundays and public holidays and nurses had lost faith in the public workers’ union.”The nurses condemn both Napwu and the Ministry of Health.At this stage, Napwu is a king without followers,” Shopati said.He said Nanu had already informed the Office of the Prime Minister about the mass demonstration planned for December 6, should the Ministry of Health fail to meet them.