WINDHOEK - The Namibia Cabin Crew Union (NCCU) yesterday staged a peaceful demonstration at the Air Namibia Head Office where they called for a Presidential Commission of Inquiry to be made into the affairs of the national airline. The demonstrators, consisting of union members and staff, wore all black to signify what they called the death of the relationship between workers and management. 

“We implore the president to appoint a presidential commission of inquiry to investigate the affairs, management and operations of the airline. The future of the Namibian airline depends on the President’s immediate involvement. We also urge the President to initiate a forensic audit of the airline’s affairs and this management and that the final report on the forensic audit be made public as well. We demand the finalisation of the HR report on grading and the report related to the operations department,” said Reginald Kock, Labour Officer of the NCCU, while reading the petition handed over to the airline’s Acting Managing Director, Adv Mandy Samson.  

“Since the airline is Namibian owned we urge that the presidential commission be appointed without delay and that the final report be made public. We as the nation have to start holding those accountable to whom we entrusted our Namibian pride like the airline,” Kock continued.  

In a statement Air Namibia noted that it is in negotiations with all unions who fall in the airline’s bargaining units, comprising of Namibia Allied and Transport Union (NATAU), Namibia Airline Pilot Association (NAPA) and Namibia Cabin Crew Union (NCCU), representing the interests of airline employees in respect of matters pertaining to wages and substantive issues. 
“Air Namibia and all unions representing the interest of its employees remain responsible social partners, acting in the interests of all employees of the company as well as the nation in general. Over the years the parties have managed to resolve issues amicably and it is believed that this development will be determined peacefully for the good of all,” read the statement, which emphasised that the action was a demonstration and not a strike. 
NCCU’s Kock concurred, saying the union would not enter into an illegal strike but would continue to follow all labour laws, policies and procedures.