Civil servants have threatened to down tools next month to protest the government’s decision to deny them a 10% pay raise across the board and other benefits.
Various unions exclusively told The Brief that public servants want their increment and will keep fighting until the government concedes to their demands. It has been more than five years since civil servants’ remunerations were adjusted.
Teachers Union of Namibia Secretary General Mahongora Kavihuha said the unions are on the ground preparing for possible mass actions.
“We are planning mass actions such as strikes, demonstrations, and downing of tools. The government must be prepared for the public servants’ strike very soon, and there was a slight delay in voting due to legal technicalities because the issue was supposed to be coordinated by the Namibia Public Workers Union (NAPWU) and Namibia National Teachers Union (NANTU), as the unions are very slow, but we are working on it,” he said.
He further asserted that the mass actions are to be expected shortly after the resumption of government schools later this month.
“Schools were closed, and we were waiting for them to reopen so that we could begin coordinating the process and putting the tools down. The strike is an impending action for all public employees. This will occur very soon after schools reopen, as the engine is well oiled and in motion.” said Kavihuha.
NAPWU Secretary General Petrus Nevonga remained tight-lipped on the matter but revealed that they are not backing down on their demands and their stance remains unchanged.
“The recent announcement by the Minister of Finance is nothing new and he was repeating his old position and our position also remains the same,” he said.
Finance minister Iipumbu Shiimi recently said the government had no desire to reduce its workforce to meet rising civil servant demands.
“What would be better, to send people home and into the streets so you can please a handful? No, it won’t be fair at all. So, it is better to maintain those people with the little they are receiving for as long as they have bread to sustain themselves,” Shiimi told The Brief.
This comes as the government, the two main trade unions representing employees, NAPWU and NANTU, have reached a deadlock over salaries, with the government claiming that it has no capacity to offer any increases, while the unions are demanding raises in line with rising food costs.
Despite the impasse, the government has agreed to raise allowances such as housing and transportation, which it estimates will cost an additional N$334 917 365.
