12 August 2011
From the chairman desk
Update on the current situation at Namdeb with regard to the Dispute resolution and the eminent strike.
Good day comrades and colleagues
First I would like to thank all of you who participated in the in the strike voting process that started Monday till yesterday, a total number of 639 votes were casted, 611 members voted in favour of the strike and only 20 voted against, 11 ballots were spoiled, and that gave us then the right to go on legal strike because majority of our members voted in in favour and that also indicated that our members are sick and tired of unfavorable conditions and unfairly treatment they are getting from Namdeb.
The conciliation meeting took place on the 10th August 2011 and both parties reached a deadlock and the unresolved dispute certificate was issued by the conciliator.
I further would like to inform you that the 48 hours strike notice was served today 12.08.2011 to the company, the office of the labour commissioner and off course to the MUN head office in Windhoek. The strikes will officially start on Tuesday 16 August 2011 at 00:01, more about this will be said at the mass meeting which will be on Saturday 13 August 2011 at 14h00 at Sakaria Lewall hall.
There is a miss misinformation, unguided and false statements that was made by the company through Ophelia Netta on mine wide that apparently only affected members referring to Boggenfells employees are allowed to take place in the voting process, The company even further said that the conciliator ( labour commissioners representative) has confirm that.
I want to make it categorically clear that the above highlighted allegations are false, and are aimed at misleading our members and dividing us as union members. Affected members means all paid up members of the union are eligible to vote, and they are all affected, meaning what affect one member affects all the members.
< During the meeting yesterday, the union asked the conciliator in the presence of the company and Ophelia herself, to confirm or deny the allegations made against her by the company as highlighted above, the conciliator denied the allegations and instructed Ophelia to send another mine wide where she must clear her name and apologize to our members. I am not surprised that she didn’t do that as yet. They even went ahead and misquote our (MUN) constitution; these are just people that are trying to be more catholic then the Pop himself by translating our constitution to suit their egos (we know our MUN constitution and there is no way that non-members can know it better than us) . The only people who can translate MUN constitution are MUN leaders and its members.
Comrades, let’ not be divided by the company, those are the same tactics that has been used before 1990, we all know exactly what we want and what our destination is, how to get there, who to get us there, and this current GMT, we won’t reach there.
We are saying that the benefit of our natural resources of this country, to be specific diamonds that we are mining, should be enjoyed by all employees of this company, but not just a small click of unconscious and comatose people, who do not have the interest of our Namibian people at heart.
As the Mine workers of this country we remain united with the spirit of no surrender, we will continue to fight for the rights our members with no fare or favour, despite intimidations and divide and rule tactics that are being practiced by those who wants to see us remain in poverty.
Mass meeting: Sakaria Lewala hall * Saturday 13-08-2011@14h00
Dabaras *Sunday 14-08-2011@16h00
E-Bay - CTF Hall *Monday 15-08-2011@ 15:30
Boggenfells *Monday 15-08-2011@18:00
Remember, people united, fighting for a common goal, of all members of its society, will always remain victorious: founding father Dr sam Nujoma.
Cde Shavuka Mbidhi
MUN Chairman (act)
Namdeb Branch