LÜDERITZ – The branch organiser of the Namibia Food and Allied Workers’ Union (NAFAU) in Lüderitz, Jacob Penda, has confirmed that workers at Protea Hotel will go on strike as from Thursday, demanding for better wages.
The workers at Protea Hotel – Sea View Sperrgebiet are saying they want better conditions of service.
Penda said a ballot was recently held to determine the best course of action and the majority of the workers voted for the strike when the wage negotiations held in June this year reached a deadlock. The lowest worker at the hotel pockets N$1 400 while the highest paid workers get N$3 000.
Some workers have been employed by the hotel for ten years and yet still earn around N$1500.
On September 10 2014, the hotel management wrote a letter saying as a result of the ballot in favor of a strike, it will be compelled to close and this could result in workers losing jobs.
NAFAU accuses the hotel management of stalling to accede to workers’ demands – starting from last year when workers started to press for better wages – so that it could close.
Penda said on Monday ten workers complied with the rules to strike and gave an 18-hour notice to proceed with the planned industrial action at the three-star, 22-room hotel sea-view hotel.
Contacted for comment the Managing Director at Protea Hotel Sea – View Sperrgebiet Lüderitz, Graham Howard, said it is “unfortunate” that the NAFAU-affiliated workers chose to strike.