Take us to court, Govt tells nurses

GOVERNMENT has officially told the Namibia Nurses Union to challenge its recognition agreement with the Namibia Public Workers’ Union in the Labour Court.

Steve Katjiuanjo, Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, wrote to Nanu at the end of last week, saying that Government could not break its recognition agreement with Napwu unless a Labour Court order withdrew Napwu’s representation of the nurses. Nanu and Government have been embroiled in a dispute over issues related to nurses’ pay for months now.When the nurses refused to drop their demands, Government eventually came out and said it could not talk to Nanu as it was not the officially recognised bargaining unit.Yesterday Nanu Secretary General, Abner Shopati, said the union was consulting its lawyers on whether to have the recognition agreement nullified in the Labour Court or whether to pursue another route.”From the response we got from the Government, the majority representation is not an issue here and it is also not about whether we are an appropriate group to represent the nurses.Government is only concerned that they might breach their agreement with Napwu,” Shopati said.He was not keen to spell out what route the nurses would take until they had consulted their lawyers, but did not rule out the court challenge.”We should know from our lawyers by Thursday,” he said.Nanu applied for Government recognition last month.In terms of labour legislation, Government had 30 days to reply.The nurses’ union claims it represents the majority of nurses and wants to negotiate their work conditions instead of leaving it to Napwu.At the moment only the Police, the Defence Force and teachers are not covered by the recognition agreement between Napwu and Government.The main issue which led to the dispute was the calculation of nurses’ pay for work done on Sundays and public holidays.While the Ministry of Health claimed that nurses were still receiving overtime payment, but for only part of their shifts on Sundays and public holidays, the union and members denied that.The change was implemented on April 1 2006 although the decision was taken a long time ago.Health Permanent Secretary Dr Kalumbi Shangula has blamed his management team for not properly explaining the changes to the nurses.Nanu and Government have been embroiled in a dispute over issues related to nurses’ pay for months now.When the nurses refused to drop their demands, Government eventually came out and said it could not talk to Nanu as it was not the officially recognised bargaining unit.Yesterday Nanu Secretary General, Abner Shopati, said the union was consulting its lawyers on whether to have the recognition agreement nullified in the Labour Court or whether to pursue another route.”From the response we got from the Government, the majority representation is not an issue here and it is also not about whether we are an appropriate group to represent the nurses.Government is only concerned that they might breach their agreement with Napwu,” Shopati said.He was not keen to spell out what route the nurses would take until they had consulted their lawyers, but did not rule out the court challenge.”We should know from our lawyers by Thursday,” he said.Nanu applied for Government recognition last month.In terms of labour legislation, Government had 30 days to reply.The nurses’ union claims it represents the majority of nurses and wants to negotiate their work conditions instead of leaving it to Napwu.At the moment only the Police, the Defence Force and teachers are not covered by the recognition agreement between Napwu and Government.The main issue which led to the dispute was the calculation of nurses’ pay for work done on Sundays and public holidays.While the Ministry of Health claimed that nurses were still receiving overtime payment, but for only part of their shifts on Sundays and public holidays, the union and members denied that.The change was implemented on April 1 2006 although the decision was taken a long time ago.Health Permanent Secretary Dr Kalumbi Shangula has blamed his management team for not properly explaining the changes to the nurses.