Newly registered Revolutionary Union takes aim at labour brokers

The newly registered Revolutionary Union (RU) aims to put an end to labour brokers.

Labour brokering is a term for a form of outsourcing in which companies contract labour brokers to provide casual labour.

The RU, led by Affirmative Repositioning (AR) leader Job Amupanda, was formed in 2021 but only succeeded registering this year. It aims at championing and assisting the struggling working class.

Amupanda posted the RU’s registration certificate on social media over the weekend, which indicates that the union will be active in the public and mining sectors.

“After years of struggle, the RU is officially registered. This is the greatest gift to the workers of Namibia for May Day! You can officially resign from sell-out unions.

“The forms will be available on Workers’ Day. Start organising. Attack! Organise! Freedom is here! Happy Workers Day,” Amupanda said.

A statement released by proletariat commander-in-chief Maitjituavi Kavetu yesterday said Namibian workers have been characterised by wage negotiations dictated at dinner tables, where the business and political elite give instructions to captured unionists, who sell workers out for political positions.

“Namibian workers will no longer be defined by low wages and precarious labour contracts that are characterised by long working hours without benefits and a permanent contract,” he said. Kavetu said there is a serious need for the review, monitoring and evaluation of the entire pension industry, with the view to protect workers and enable them to be directly involved in the affairs of their pensions.

“We will lead conversations and strategies for the creation of the National Strike Fund to protect workers during protracted workers’ strike actions. There is a need to immediately put an end to the no-work, no-pay strike rules,” he said.

Kavetu said outsourcing of work will finally end, and employees will be permanently employed.

“If the University of Namibia requires security guards, they must permanently employ them and end the outsourcing.

“Should the City of Windhoek require cleaners, they must directly employ them and put an end to the outsourcing of duties,” he said.

Kavetu said the days of security guards being on strike alone while the rest of the country continues business as usual must end, and the whole country must join them.

The same applies to all other industries.

“On this special day, the only thing to celebrate is the death and burial of the sell-out unions that kept betraying Namibian workers since the attainment of flag independence.

“Today marks a new beginning for a new revolutionary era for all Namibian workers, notwithstanding the industries they may join,” he said.

Labour ministry spokesperson Maria Hedimbi confirmed the union’s registration.

“Yes, it is registered as a trade union in the public and mining sectors effective 27 April,” she said.