Plastic Packaging employees set for a strike

OPERATIONS at Plastic Packaging may grind to a halt as approximately 207 employees of the plastics manufacturer prepare to strike over a failed wage dispute.

The dispute, primarily over wages and housing allowance, was declared unresolved by a labour commissioner on May 23 2011. Justine Jonas, project coordinator at the Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union (Manwu) Windhoek Branch, said that Plastic Packaging management and Manwu have been locking horns since January this year over the two issues.According to the Manwu project coordinator, the workers in the bargaining unit set their demands for a N$150 per month wage increase and a N$300 per month housing allowance. Jonas said, at present, some workers earn less than N$2000 per month, and receive a housing allowance of N$200 monthly.Furthermore, Jonas said that the majority of the workers in the bargaining unit have no medical aid as they cannot afford it, and the company has refused to pay a 75 per cent contribution towards medical aid as proposed by the union.Plastic Packaging, along with Polyoak Packaging Namibia, Namibia Polymer Recyclers, Plastic Packaging Cape, Ango Plasticos make up the Plastic Packaging Group of companies, which operates in Namibia, Angola and the northern Cape in South Africa. It is Namibia’s only manufacturer and distributor of packaging materials.The Manwu Project Coordinator has said that despite the jointly agreed upon rules for the strike set by both Manwu and Plastic Packaging management, some of the workers have reported cases of intimidation by the company’s management, and that a number of shop stewards have been given notice to appear before a disciplinary hearing.The Namibian contacted Plastic Packaging management for comment, but was told that the company would be issuing a press statement today.

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