Strike at Vocational Training Centre averted

A last-minute wage agreement between the Windhoek Vocational and Training Centre’s management, the Namibia National Teachers’ Union (Nantu) and the Namibia Public Workers’ Union (Napwu) averted a strike that had been planned to start yesterday.

The agreement provides for a five per cent salary increase across the board, backdated to April this year. The management said it would give attention to demands for higher housing subsidies and better medical aid coverage in the next financial year.But employees at the training centre are still dissatisfied, claiming that there is poor financial management.They have demanded the replacement of the entire management and board of trustees.”We propose that the authorities do away with uncommitted board members and rather replace them with a committed board of trustees,” said one employee.The centre’s principal, Paulus Haukongo, dismissed the claims of incompetence.”It is pure lies.There is no poor management here,” he said.The management said it would give attention to demands for higher housing subsidies and better medical aid coverage in the next financial year.But employees at the training centre are still dissatisfied, claiming that there is poor financial management.They have demanded the replacement of the entire management and board of trustees.”We propose that the authorities do away with uncommitted board members and rather replace them with a committed board of trustees,” said one employee.The centre’s principal, Paulus Haukongo, dismissed the claims of incompetence.”It is pure lies.There is no poor management here,” he said.