Keetmanshoop
The disruption of working hours is set to continue at Neckartal Dam as Salini workers vowed to toyi-toyi peacefully until they get a positive response.
The peaceful demonstration went into its 3rd day on Tuesday after the workers and the Salini management failed to reach an amicable solution.
Speaking to the Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union (MANWU) //Kharas regional branch organiser Emerentia Riekert, she said workers will continue with the demonstration until the agreement signed earlier on by the union and Salini is honoured and implemented as stipulated.
Riekert indicated Salini has written to the workers through the union asking for an extension on the implementation date from the initial May 20 agreed upon to the 29th of this month, a gesture which the workers have refused to accept.
“The workers don’t want to grant any extension as they feel it’s long overdue,” she said.
According to the Project Labour Agreement (PLA) signed by the two parties on May it was agreed the company will grant a salary increment of N$ 2.20 on the basic hourly rate to all employees across the board effective with back pay as from March 01, 2015 up until February 29, 2016.The parties further agreed to discuss and deliberate on the worker’s salary discrepancies at a later date while MANWU will provide Salini with a detailed list of salary discrepancies, and the company is expected to reply in writing regarding the union’s queries on or before May 20, 2015. They also agreed to implement the decision of the labour commissioner with regards to the living away allowance after the company requested the labour commissioner to interpret its meaning. Accusing Salini of not putting into practice what was agreed on the workers then held their first peacefully demonstration last Friday as they handed over a petition to the management.The workers again spent time demonstrating on Monday in a similar fashion as they did on Friday only getting to work in the afternoon and they have vowed to continue on a daily basis until such a time they feel they have had a positive response from Salini.
Reading the petition last Friday on behalf of the workers, Stephanus Sheyer, one of the shop stewards outlined recruitment, affirmative action, contracts, working hours, pension fund, salary discrepancies and favouritism as one of their main concerns. Workers in their petition demanded full compensation for extra hours worked, equal pay for equal work and the removal of Guliano Bandoline, Vincenzo Valente and Mauro Carnivali from their positions.
Talking to some shop stewards on site, they narrated to New Era how the agreement signed early between their union and Salini is not being honoured as per the agreement.
Some were disappointed that most Namibians are employed on a fixed term contract of 6 months, while all the Italians are employed on a permanent basis. “If your supervisor doesn’t like you then your contract is terminated,” said a shop steward who requested anonymity for fear of victimisation.
As of yesterday no agreement was reached as the Salini management refused to come out of their offices to engage the workers and another peaceful demonstration is set to continue today.