Unam hikes ‘a shock’

THE Namibia Public Workers’ Union (Napwu) and the Namibia National Teachers’ Union (Nantu) have expressed shock at the U-turn taken by the University of Namibia top management in giving themselves salary increases.

In a joint statement yesterday, Nantu’s Unam branch chairperson, Ruddy Kamerika, and his Napwu counterpart, Barbara van der Westhuizen, said the university management undertook verbally not to increase their salaries because there was not enough money. They noted that the unions had even lowered their demands and settled for a six per cent increase when they had wanted seven per cent for the staff in their bargaining unit.”The unions are distressed that apparently [Unam] Council has no knowledge nor has given approval for these increases,” the unions said.The Namibian reported yesterday that the top management at Unam awarded themselves pay hikes a week after complaining that salary increases for general staff would result in a shortfall of N$5,7 million and that the university would need to tighten its belt.According to the unions, there was a “gentleman’s agreement” that the top management would not get an increase because of the university’s financial position.Unam claimed yesterday the Council had approved the increases when it discussed those for staff members in the bargaining unit of the unions.Unam spokesperson Utaara Hoveka said the six per cent increase approved by the Council was for “all staff members including management”.”In keeping with its practice of according salary increases across the board for all staff, the management proposal was approved by Council through Resolution: C/08/096/09,” Hoveka said in an e-mailed response.He said Unam, as a matter of principle, always budgeted for inflationary salary adjustments for all its staff and thus the money for management was also set aside.”This is done to ensure that Unam remains a competitive employer considering the ever-increasing cost of living and its highly specialised staff component.It is factually incorrect to assert that the University Management gave itself a six per cent salary increase without Council approval,” Hoveka said.The unions, however, denied that they had negotiated on behalf of management and expressed concern about management reneging on their word.”It is the [two] unions’ opinion that a verbal agreement at the [negotiating] table is equally binding and if the allegations expressed in the media are true, then the unions question the honour of the team they negotiated with,” the statement said.According to them the trust they had in the management was in the balance.Today, Unam is set to lay off 24 kitchen workers after the service was outsourced to cut expenses.The unions questioned the “real motive” behind the retrenchments.”How can Unam claim that the decision to retrench staff was taken for economical reasons whilst on the other hand they have enriched themselves with exactly the same package awarded to the bargaining unit,” the two unions asked.Although both union representatives denied having approached the Anti-Corruption Commission about the secret salary increases of top management, they vowed to “strongly support” such action if the allegations are found to be true.They noted that the unions had even lowered their demands and settled for a six per cent increase when they had wanted seven per cent for the staff in their bargaining unit.”The unions are distressed that apparently [Unam] Council has no knowledge nor has given approval for these increases,” the unions said.The Namibian reported yesterday that the top management at Unam awarded themselves pay hikes a week after complaining that salary increases for general staff would result in a shortfall of N$5,7 million and that the university would need to tighten its belt. According to the unions, there was a “gentleman’s agreement” that the top management would not get an increase because of the university’s financial position.Unam claimed yesterday the Council had approved the increases when it discussed those for staff members in the bargaining unit of the unions.Unam spokesperson Utaara Hoveka said the six per cent increase approved by the Council was for “all staff members including management”.”In keeping with its practice of according salary increases across the board for all staff, the management proposal was approved by Council through Resolution: C/08/096/09,” Hoveka said in an e-mailed response.He said Unam, as a matter of principle, always budgeted for inflationary salary adjustments for all its staff and thus the money for management was also set aside.”This is done to ensure that Unam remains a competitive employer considering the ever-increasing cost of living and its highly specialised staff component.It is factually incorrect to assert that the University Management gave itself a six per cent salary increase without Council approval,” Hoveka said.The unions, however, denied that they had negotiated on behalf of management and expressed concern about management reneging on their word.”It is the [two] unions’ opinion that a verbal agreement at the [negotiating] table is equally binding and if the allegations expressed in the media are true, then the unions question the honour of the team they negotiated with,” the statement said.According to them the trust they had in the management was in the balance.Today, Unam is set to lay off 24 kitchen workers after the service was outsourced to cut expenses.The unions questioned the “real motive” behind the retrenchments.”How can Unam claim that the decision to retrench staff was taken for economical reasons whilst on the other hand they have enriched themselves with exactly the same package awarded to the bargaining unit,” the two unions asked.Although both union representatives denied having approached the Anti-Corruption Commission about the secret salary increases of top management, they vowed to “strongly support” such action if the allegations are found to be true.