TransNamib and the bargaining union, the Namibia Transport and Allied Workers Union (Natau), on Friday reached a salary increment agreement in favour of the workers, thus ending a three-week strike.
The parties, in a joint statement, said employees will receive a
salary increase of 5.5% for those that fall within the salary structure of band A, 4.5% in the B band, and 3.5% for the C band.
The increases will benefit more than 1 200 employees. “Also as part of the agreement, workers will receive a N$100 increase on transport allowance, from N$542 to N$642 per month for members in the Bargaining Unit (A1-C5),” said TransNamib spokesperson Abigail Raubenheimer.
The agreement also stipulates the rail parastatal will not apply the no work, no pay principle as previously planned and envisaged against the employees who opted to down tools.
Natau has agreed to waive the 22 months of backpay, which would have been due to the employees.
The workers will now only receive three months’ worth of backpay.
“The parties have also confirmed their commitment to work together to increase income from the current levels to an average N$45 million per month by the beginning of the next financial period,” said Raubenheimer.
Thus, the company and the union will be meeting at least on a monthly basis to deal with all matters pertaining to improving the relationships in the organisation, with a view to strengthen team building, culture change initiatives, and ensuring high performance for
all TransNamib employees.
The just-ended salary dispute began in 2019 and resulted in the parties turning to the courts.
However, they ended up reaching an out-of-court settlement in August which led to the strike vote, which an overwhelming number voted in favour of.
However, while in the midst of the strike, TransNamib accused the employees of violating the strike rules and opened a case of malicious damage to property in Walvis Bay.
According, to the police report, the suspects cut open three vacuum tankers’ pipes on the train with unknown objects.
The damage has affected the mobility of the train. The value of the properties damaged is N$330 000. No one has been arrested in connection to the allegations.
-mamakali@nepc.com.na