A WAR of words has erupted between the Namibia Public Workers’ Union (Napwu) and the Namibia Nurses’ Union (Nanu) as nurses prepare to stage a peaceful demonstration tomorrow over disputed non-payment of overtime for work done on Sundays and public holidays.
While Nanu described Napwu as sell-outs who failed the nurses, the rival union called Nanu “confused” and appealed to Government to withdraw their registration. Nanu Secretary General Abner Shopati told a media briefing that they were well prepared for the mass demonstration to punish the Ministry of Health for ignoring their call for a meeting.”The Ministry suffered the setback last week (when nurses boycotted a meeting).December 6 shall be a day of history and any compromise on healthcare shall be the responsibility of the Ministry (of Health),” Shopati said.Nanu has mobilised the support of the Trade Union Congress of Namibia, with affiliates such as the Public Service Union of Namibia and Teachers’ Union of Namibia having vowed to support the nurses tomorrow.The Secretary General of Napwu, Peter Nevonga, said Nanu’s leadership lacked knowledge of the labour law and must be brought to book.”The Government administers laws and must de-register them (Nanu).When you mislead people, it is tantamount to criminology (sic).Once you practice criminology, you become a criminal,” he said.Nevonga explained that overtime payment for nurses was not reduced but only brought in line with the rest of the public service, because it had been calculated wrongly in the past.”What they are claiming is that nurses should be paid wrongly.We call on all our members not to be misled.They should not partake in that demo,” he said.Nanu President Timo Gebhardt threatened that nurses would strike if they were not happy with the outcome of tomorrow’s demonstration.”We don’t want patients to die but if the Ministry forces us, we will go on strike.That is completely avoidable if the Ministry listens to us,” Gebhardt said.Shopati also hit out at Health Minister Dr Richard Kamwi’s meeting with nurses at the Oshakati State Hospital on Thursday.Kamwi told nurses to get their priorities right by not taking part in the demonstration.Shopati said Kamwi’s action amounted to victimisation.”Targeting Oshakati was a dull strategy.Is this a Government position or his own? President (Hifikepunye) Pohamba must caution his minister,” Shopati said.Last week, Health Permanent Secretary Dr Kalumbi Shangula called a meeting with the Ministry’s employees to clarify some issues but it was abandoned after nurses failed to pitch.Shangula said his office had taken up nurses’ concerns with the Office of the Prime Minister and that a circular would be issued this week.Shangula said the contest was only about how the overtime calculations were done.He said Government would pay back money if it turns out that nurses had been short-changed.However, nurses would have to fork out if they owed the Government.Nanu Secretary General Abner Shopati told a media briefing that they were well prepared for the mass demonstration to punish the Ministry of Health for ignoring their call for a meeting.”The Ministry suffered the setback last week (when nurses boycotted a meeting).December 6 shall be a day of history and any compromise on healthcare shall be the responsibility of the Ministry (of Health),” Shopati said.Nanu has mobilised the support of the Trade Union Congress of Namibia, with affiliates such as the Public Service Union of Namibia and Teachers’ Union of Namibia having vowed to support the nurses tomorrow.The Secretary General of Napwu, Peter Nevonga, said Nanu’s leadership lacked knowledge of the labour law and must be brought to book.”The Government administers laws and must de-register them (Nanu).When you mislead people, it is tantamount to criminology (sic).Once you practice criminology, you become a criminal,” he said.Nevonga explained that overtime payment for nurses was not reduced but only brought in line with the rest of the public service, because it had been calculated wrongly in the past.”What they are claiming is that nurses should be paid wrongly.We call on all our members not to be misled.They should not partake in that demo,” he said.Nanu President Timo Gebhardt threatened that nurses would strike if they were not happy with the outcome of tomorrow’s demonstration.”We don’t want patients to die but if the Ministry forces us, we will go on strike.That is completely avoidable if the Ministry listens to us,” Gebhardt said.Shopati also hit out at Health Minister Dr Richard Kamwi’s meeting with nurses at the Oshakati State Hospital on Thursday.Kamwi told nurses to get their priorities right by not taking part in the demonstration.Shopati said Kamwi’s action amounted to victimisation.”Targeting Oshakati was a dull strategy.Is this a Government position or his own? President (Hifikepunye) Pohamba must caution his minister,” Shopati said.Last week, Health Permanent Secretary Dr Kalumbi Shangula called a meeting with the Ministry’s employees to clarify some issues but it was abandoned after nurses failed to pitch.Shangula said his office had taken up nurses’ concerns with the Office of the Prime Minister and that a circular would be issued this week.Shangula said the contest was only about how the overtime calculations were done.He said Government would pay back money if it turns out that nurses had been short-changed.However, nurses would have to fork out if they owed the Government.
