NovaNam looses almost N$10m in 10-day strike

ONE of Namibia’s biggest fishing companies has sustained losses of N$9,5 million after a 10-day labour unrest.

Fisheries Minister Abraham Iyambo was in Luderitz yesterday telling workers that an agreement had been reached for them to return to work at the NovaNam factory, where a woman was killed by her colleague on the production line. “Now that a life has been lost, it is becoming too ugly,” said Iyambo, who suggested his voice went hoarse while talking to workers in Luderitz.Iyambo expressed concern about the conflict between management and workers, saying a closure of Pescanova would spell doom for the coastal town.Pescanova, is the Spanish fishing giant which owns NovaNam, a major player in Namibia’s fishing business with up to 2 600 workers.A shift of nearly 400 workers protested after 32-year-old Geralda Eugenia Apollus, a supervisor, was stabbed to death while on duty.She was killed by David Negongo (30).Negongo allegedly broke into a rage after he was served with a suspension notice on June 25, when Apollus reported him to her superior for poor work.The rest of the workers turned their anger on management, accusing it of ignoring their grievances, which they alleged led to the the on-duty killing.Trade unions, while condemning the stabbing of Apollus and another worker, accused NovaNam of perpetuating poor working relations.”There is a lot of tension among themselves… ill-feeling, anger and frustration,” said Iyambo who mediated a solution on Sunday.He said he wanted the company and workers’ representatives to meet and attend to grievances.Iyambo said he hoped problems will be solved amicably, and condemned reports that some workers regarded the killing of a supervisor as a heroic act.The Minister pointed out that work-stoppage did not only harm the workers directly but affected the town, which is heavily dependent on the big employer.NovaNam and the trade unions blamed each other for the closure.NovaNam said the workers went on an illegal strike and that some of them had intimidated others into action.The company also obtained a court interdict against the shift which first took industrial action.Iyambo said the losses were colossus, with a lot of fish rotting, requiring a phased in resumption of duty while more catches were brought into the production.NovaNam has agreed to withdraw the court interdict, while the workers are expected to accept being on paid leave while work becomes available.The first workers are expected on duty tomorrow.The monetary losses given by Iyambo could not be independently confirmed, though they may not be off the mark considering that at times NovaNam work in shifts nearly around the clock.”Now that a life has been lost, it is becoming too ugly,” said Iyambo, who suggested his voice went hoarse while talking to workers in Luderitz.Iyambo expressed concern about the conflict between management and workers, saying a closure of Pescanova would spell doom for the coastal town.Pescanova, is the Spanish fishing giant which owns NovaNam, a major player in Namibia’s fishing business with up to 2 600 workers.A shift of nearly 400 workers protested after 32-year-old Geralda Eugenia Apollus, a supervisor, was stabbed to death while on duty.She was killed by David Negongo (30).Negongo allegedly broke into a rage after he was served with a suspension notice on June 25, when Apollus reported him to her superior for poor work.The rest of the workers turned their anger on management, accusing it of ignoring their grievances, which they alleged led to the the on-duty killing.Trade unions, while condemning the stabbing of Apollus and another worker, accused NovaNam of perpetuating poor working relations.”There is a lot of tension among themselves… ill-feeling, anger and frustration,” said Iyambo who mediated a solution on Sunday.He said he wanted the company and workers’ representatives to meet and attend to grievances.Iyambo said he hoped problems will be solved amicably, and condemned reports that some workers regarded the killing of a supervisor as a heroic act.The Minister pointed out that work-stoppage did not only harm the workers directly but affected the town, which is heavily dependent on the big employer.NovaNam and the trade unions blamed each other for the closure.NovaNam said the workers went on an illegal strike and that some of them had intimidated others into action.The company also obtained a court interdict against the shift which first took industrial action.Iyambo said the losses were colossus, with a lot of fish rotting, requiring a phased in resumption of duty while more catches were brought into the production.NovaNam has agreed to withdraw the court interdict, while the workers are expected to accept being on paid leave while work becomes available.The first workers are expected on duty tomorrow.The monetary losses given by Iyambo could not be independently confirmed, though they may not be off the mark considering that at times NovaNam work in shifts nearly around the clock.