Teachers’ strike looming

GOVERNMENT is bracing itself for a court showdown after it demoted 191 teachers and told over 15 000 others that there was no money to increase their salaries.

The Namibia National Teachers’ Union (Nantu) yesterday made it clear that Government could face a potentially crippling national strike after Cabinet nullified an earlier undertaking to increase salaries and benefits for long-serving teachers. Cabinet instructed Education Minister Nangolo Mbumba to inform Nantu that an earlier promise to implement a universal salary structure for all teachers was “incorrect”.It said the appointment of 191 teachers at higher salaries since February last year was “erroneous” and they must pay back the difference because they were “overpaid”.Apart from freezing the new structure and denying the existing teachers a salary increase, Government appointed a team headed by Deputy Secretary to Cabinet Steven Katjiuanjo to investigate who in the Ministry of Education and the Office of the Prime Minister had approved the new salary structure and to recommend their punishment.The Namibian is in possession of documents indicating that the Office of the President and Office of the Prime Minister were aware of the implementation of the new salary structure for teachers.On December 18 2003, the Office of the Prime Minister, on recommendation of the Public Service Commission, wrote to the Ministry of Education informing it that it had approved the revised appointment of teachers and that it would be implemented from January 1 2004.When Government failed to implement the decision, Nantu went back to them and in February this year a joint statement was issued between the teachers’ union and the Ministry of Education in which Government blamed a heavy administrative workload for the delay and called for patience from teachers.”The crucial obstacle to implement the new salary grading for teachers is that of funds limitation.The Ministry will implement the measure once the funds are made available in the budget,” the joint statement signed by Deputy Permanent Secretary Stanley Simataa and Nantu Secretary General Miriam Hamutenya said.On Friday, Government made a U-turn and nullified all the other agreements with Nantu.A furious Hamutenya said yesterday that Nantu was not prepared to accept the Government statement.”Our members must be on alert,” she said, adding that the Government had betrayed the teachers.She warned that the 191 teachers could take the Government to court for breach of contract, and did not rule out a strike from the rest of the over 15 000 teachers.Nantu already notified the Office of the Labour Commissioner yesterday of a “dispute of rights” – meaning it has declared a labour dispute.By law, the Government has until the end of this month to avert a strike by implementing the new salary structure.If nothing happens by month-end, all indications are that teachers will strike at the most crucial time of the school calendar.The Namibian reported earlier this week that Government needed an additional N$500 million to improve the salaries of the teachers.Hamutenya dismissed those statements as “mere talk”.”We need the evidence about the N$500 million.How do we know it is true? We have said repeatedly ‘comrades, put the raw evidence on the table’ and they have failed to do so,” Hamutenya said.On Thursday, Education Deputy Minister Becky Ndjoze-Ojo told NBC TV News that teaching was a noble profession and they did not expect teachers to strike.”What she was saying was uncalled for.We respect the relationship we have with the Government but they should not tamper with our bargaining power.The union waited patiently for 20 months.We were very patient,” she said.Hamutenya was supported by the Nantu Central Region leadership, who called on Ndjoze-Ojo to withdraw her remarks and make time to solve the issue amicably and professionally.The 191 new teachers, mostly Basic Education Teaching Diploma (BETD) graduates, were placed in higher salary brackets than teachers already employed.As a result, new BETD graduates, appointed under the revised salary structure, were better off than long-serving teachers although they did the same work.How the salary issue played out * December 18 2003 – The Office of the Prime Minister informs the Ministry of Basic Education of the decision of the Public Service Commission on the revised appointment requirements to be implemented as from January 1 2004.* 10 February 2004 – The Prime Minister, on the recommendation of the Public Service Commission, approves the amendment to Wascom appointment requirements for teachers.* 23 February 2004 – The Ministry of Basic Education issues an instruction to regional directors of education to implement the revised appointment requirements for teachers * 24 February 2004 – The Ministry of Basic Education and Nantu issue a joint statement on the revised appointment requirements for teachers and call on them to be patient while the “…modalities to effect new appointments…”were being finalised.* 29 June 2005 – Nantu issues an ultimatum to the Government to implement the new structure or face a notice of dispute of rights through the Office of the Labour Commissioner.* 12 August 2005 – Government informs teachers, through Nantu, that the new appointment requirements were implemented incorrectly and were thus nullified.The teachers (191) appointed under the new structure must pay back the difference in the money they received and disciplinary action will be taken against those who implemented the decision.* 16 August 2005 – Nantu calls on teachers to be on alert as they declare a dispute through the Office of the Labour Commissioner.Cabinet instructed Education Minister Nangolo Mbumba to inform Nantu that an earlier promise to implement a universal salary structure for all teachers was “incorrect”.It said the appointment of 191 teachers at higher salaries since February last year was “erroneous” and they must pay back the difference because they were “overpaid”.Apart from freezing the new structure and denying the existing teachers a salary increase, Government appointed a team headed by Deputy Secretary to Cabinet Steven Katjiuanjo to investigate who in the Ministry of Education and the Office of the Prime Minister had approved the new salary structure and to recommend their punishment.The Namibian is in possession of documents indicating that the Office of the President and Office of the Prime Minister were aware of the implementation of the new salary structure for teachers.On December 18 2003, the Office of the Prime Minister, on recommendation of the Public Service Commission, wrote to the Ministry of Education informing it that it had approved the revised appointment of teachers and that it would be implemented from January 1 2004.When Government failed to implement the decision, Nantu went back to them and in February this year a joint statement was issued between the teachers’ union and the Ministry of Education in which Government blamed a heavy administrative workload for the delay and called for patience from teachers.”The crucial obstacle to implement the new salary grading for teachers is that of funds limitation.The Ministry will implement the measure once the funds are made available in the budget,” the joint statement signed by Deputy Permanent Secretary Stanley Simataa and Nantu Secretary General Miriam Hamutenya said.On Friday, Government made a U-turn and nullified all the other agreements with Nantu.A furious Hamutenya said yesterday that Nantu was not prepared to accept the Government statement.”Our members must be on alert,” she said, adding that the Government had betrayed the teachers.She warned that the 191 teachers could take the Government to court for breach of contract, and did not rule out a strike from the rest of the over 15 000 teachers.Nantu already notified the Office of the Labour Commissioner yesterday of a “dispute of rights” – meaning it has declared a labour dispute.By law, the Government has until the end of this month to avert a strike by implementing the new salary structure.If nothing happens by month-end, all indications are that teachers will strike at the most crucial time of the school calendar. The Namibian reported earlier this week that Government needed an additional N$500 million to improve the salaries of the teachers.Hamutenya dismissed those statements as “mere talk”.”We need the evidence about the N$500 million.How do we know it is true? We have said repeatedly ‘comrades, put the raw evidence on the table’ and they have failed to do so,” Hamutenya said.On Thursday, Education Deputy Minister Becky Ndjoze-Ojo told NBC TV News that teaching was a noble profession and they did not expect teachers to strike.”What she was saying was uncalled for.We respect the relationship we have with the Government but they should not tamper with our bargaining power.The union waited patiently for 20 months.We were very patient,” she said.Hamutenya was supported by the Nantu Central Region leadership, who called on Ndjoze-Ojo to withdraw her remarks and make time to solve the issue amicably and professionally.The 191 new teachers, mostly Basic Education Teaching Diploma (BETD) graduates, were placed in higher salary brackets than teachers already employed.As a result, new BETD graduates, appointed under the revised salary structure, were better off than long-serving teachers although they did the same work.How the salary issue played out * December 18 2003 – The Office of the Prime Minister informs the Ministry of Basic Education of the decision of the Public Service Commission on the revised appointment requirements to be implemented as from January 1 2004.* 10 February 2004 – The Prime Minister, on the recommendation of the Public Service Commission, approves the amendment to Wascom appointment requirements for teachers.* 23 February 2004 – The Ministry of Basic Education issues an instruction to regional directors of education to implement the revised appointment requirements for teachers * 24 February 2004 – The Ministry of Basic Education and Nantu issue a joint statement on the revised appointment requirements for teachers and call on them to be patient while the “…modalities to effect new appointments…”were being finalised.* 29 June 2005 – Nantu issues an ultimatum to the Government to implement the new structure or face a notice of dispute of rights through the Office of the Labour Commissioner.* 12 August 2005 – Government informs teachers, through Nantu, that the new appointment requirements were implemented incorrectly and were thus nullified. The teachers (191) appointed under the new structure must pay back the difference in the money they received and disciplinary action will be taken against those who implemented the decision.* 16 August 2005 – Nantu calls on teachers to be on alert as they declare a dispute through the Office of the Labour Commissioner.