Stand off at Seaflower

THE four-week strike at Seaflower Whitefish Corporation at Luederitz is continuing after union and management representatives again failed to find common ground on wage increases.

Chief Executive Officer Ronny Coppin said yesterday that the company had suffered losses of N$7 million since the strike started. Coppin said any wage increases were doubtful given the current financial position the company finds itself in.”The company’s precarious financial situation resulting from the fishing industry crisis is not unique,” he said.”Somewhere along the way, shareholders will be forced to take other alternatives,” Coppin said.The Namibia Seamen and Allied Workers Union (Nasawu) tabled new demands at a meeting on Wednesday.It demanded a 60-cent increase of the hourly rate for land-based workers, a daily rate of N$82 for sea-going workers and a 60-cent increase to N$6.45 in commission per tonne of hake exported.In addition, the union wants factory workers to receive two-thirds of their normal salaries in the one-month off-season recently imposed by Government.Government decided on the off-season to allow hake to breed, in an attempt to rescue the ailing fishing industry.Nasawu initially demanded wage increases of 16 to 18 per cent for land-based workers, and a 7,8 per cent hike for sea-going workers.On top of this, the workers want a housing allowance of N$150 a month.Approached for comment yesterday, Nasawu President Paulus Hango said the new demands would cost the company only N$18 000 a month more, which was equivalent to only one manager’s monthly salary.He blamed management salaries for the company’s financial woes.Coppin disagreed.He said the company had reduced top management positions by not filling vacancies left by those who resigned voluntarily.That had saved the company N$4 million, he said.He said union leaders continued pushing workers’ demands although they were aware of the company’s financial position.”We’ve shown them the company’s financial statements recording losses,” he said.”What more can we do?”Coppin said any wage increases were doubtful given the current financial position the company finds itself in.”The company’s precarious financial situation resulting from the fishing industry crisis is not unique,” he said. “Somewhere along the way, shareholders will be forced to take other alternatives,” Coppin said.The Namibia Seamen and Allied Workers Union (Nasawu) tabled new demands at a meeting on Wednesday.It demanded a 60-cent increase of the hourly rate for land-based workers, a daily rate of N$82 for sea-going workers and a 60-cent increase to N$6.45 in commission per tonne of hake exported.In addition, the union wants factory workers to receive two-thirds of their normal salaries in the one-month off-season recently imposed by Government.Government decided on the off-season to allow hake to breed, in an attempt to rescue the ailing fishing industry.Nasawu initially demanded wage increases of 16 to 18 per cent for land-based workers, and a 7,8 per cent hike for sea-going workers.On top of this, the workers want a housing allowance of N$150 a month.Approached for comment yesterday, Nasawu President Paulus Hango said the new demands would cost the company only N$18 000 a month more, which was equivalent to only one manager’s monthly salary.He blamed management salaries for the company’s financial woes.Coppin disagreed.He said the company had reduced top management positions by not filling vacancies left by those who resigned voluntarily.That had saved the company N$4 million, he said.He said union leaders continued pushing workers’ demands although they were aware of the company’s financial position.”We’ve shown them the company’s financial statements recording losses,” he said.”What more can we do?”