By Magreth Nunuhe
WINDHOEK – Cleaners at the Rundu State Hospital have threatened to terminate their membership with the Namibia Public Workers’ Union (Napwu) on grounds the union does not advance their interests.
They accuse Napwu of not being forthcoming regarding their labour complaints about working conditions and pay packages.
The workers, mainly general cleaners, kitchen workers and supervisors say they receive “little money” compared to cleaners doing the same jobs at counterpart hospitals in the country.
“Cleaners at the hostel start at 05h00 until 19h00 and only get N$2 400 per month,” said one irate worker, who requested anonymity.
The workers say that they also demand to get N$5 000 per month that hospital cleaners supposedly get in other regions and added that they do a lot of overtime, but only get 65 cents per hour for extra work or nothing at all.
Another worker said she received no overtime for the whole of last year even though she has been doing the extra time. More than 200 workers at Rundu Hospital want to leave Napwu, because after giving their grievances time and again, the union did nothing.
“We want to annul our membership,” said the workers, adding that they do not have plans to go on an industrial strike but plan to terminate their union membership very soon.
Approached for comment, Director of the Rundu State Hospital, Dr Yuri Yagazov, said that the workers’ allegations were far from the truth and that they must present evidence and facts about their alleged mistreatment.
“They must present facts – where they are working, how many hours they work and not just generalise things,” he added, saying that many of those who claim to be overworked and underpaid, disappear when they are asked to present such evidence.
Yagazov said there are channels through which the workers can complain, such as to their supervisors, the chief clerk, chief control officer or even to the Public Service Commission but they have not done so.
“It’s very difficult to identify who is talking the truth,” he said, adding that all over the world, the general impression you get is that workers are overworked and not paid enough.
Napwu secretary-general, Petrus Nevonga, has said he was not aware of the situation in Rundu but would investigate their grievances.
It is not the first time Napwu has come under attack from its members.
Just recently at Ondangwa, 250 workers terminated their membership, reportedly saying the union was compromising their interests in favour of their employer – the government.
The members were made up of government administrative officers, cooks and institutional workers from different ministries in the northern regions of Oshana, Ohangwena, Omusati and Oshikoto.
Last year dissatisfied community counsellors offering HIV testing and counselling services at the Oshakati Intermediate Hospital and clinics around the Oshana Region quit Napwu.