Mine Workforce preparing to Strike!

[Michael Alexander]

LINK: http://www.namibian.com.na/news-articles/national/full-story/archive/2011/august/article/namdeb-workers-prepare-to-strike/

Gee! Does this union never give up..... always an issue with something, a union is meant to be there to help build a relationship between the workers and the management, not to keep threatening disrupions.....

[Mike Voden (RIP)]

Sounds like the MUN workers want a few days off but do they realise that when a person goes on strike, they never recoup the monies they loose whilst on strike.

[Michael Alexander]

... and targets ain't reached, thus no incentive bonus's to be paid out...

[Dalene Steenkamp (Coetzee)]

Very big surprise awaits them  -  was on the news this morning that Namibian Gov intents to proclaim a law to load the mining companies in Namibia with taxes that will make them stagger, so .....    bonus payouts will be cut drastically due to profits earned being pumped into the state coffers !!

Sorry NUM, you will have to fight government on that one ~  not strike at the mine is going to help you with that !!


They're not following SA Malema's choise of Nationalisation  -  nope, if you can't have what is their's, then kill them with tax.

[Michael Alexander]

@Dalene, I was following the Nam GOv's Tax increase tale also, truth be told...

1) Our income from the SACU decreased dramatically...

2) Gov increased civil servants income dramatically... to keep them quiet and to stop asking what happened to the huge fraud involving their pensions...and to keep them of the streets from protesting...

3) Gov gave the war veterans a lot of money, to keep them and their kids of the streets protesting...

SO in essence they are giving out more than they are getting in ... and as we all know this ain't how business works, unless you are the Yankee gov.....

So the solution was to increase the tax base by upping the mining industries taxes....  thus actually getting somebody else to cough up for their freewill of spending....

This has a darker side, due to the fact that it will scare of potential investors.... thus creating less jobs in the long run and less tax to gov...

Just my 2 cents....

[Riaan Smit]

Iemand het weer kortpad gevat met die benaming van toelae. Die MUN verstaan seker nie hoe om die toelae te verduidelik nie. Oplossing: Gee almal wat 'n probleem het met die toelae 'n pakket. Die volgende resessie is mos klaar begin deur Amerika.

[Charles Scheepers]

Welcome to the banana republic.
Wondering HOW the goverment is going to tax themselfs against their 50% shares in Namdeb and Deb Marine.
This gravy train is starting to slip with all the lubrication!!!! 

Biggest joke is, there is nothing we can do about it.......sad.....
Maybe one day when the wheels grind to a halt, we'll pick up the pieces. (Should be soon though.)

[Michael Alexander]

Strike almost here...

LINK: http://www.namibian.com.na/news-articles/national/full-story/archive/2011/august/article/namdeb-workers-brace-for-strike/

Reckon this might actually play in DeBeers favour with the current economical climate......

Don't have to pay people that don't work, Union does not seem to see the larger picture ....

[Michael Alexander]

I heard the company plane take off this morning..... wonder if it is going to negotiate....?

[Michael Alexander]

MINE SAY"S STRIKE ILLEGAL!

LINK: http://www.namibian.com.na/news-articles/national/full-story/archive/2011/august/article/namdeb-says-workers-strike-will-be-illegal/

[Robert Bruce]

"NAMDEB says a planned strike called for tomorrow by its workers will be illegal because it is based on a "flawed ballot process",

Reminds me of the BA cabin crew strikes. British Airways claimed the same. Guess what happened.

[Michael Alexander]

Just received this email from the mine, issuing a statement......with regard to the strike..........

[Michael Alexander]

and..... also this...

"Dear All



Following the communiqué sent out earlier today regarding the planned strike action, attached find picketing and striking rules as agreed between Namdeb and the MUN.

Please take note of the following extract taken from the Picketing and Strike rules document:



Strike Rules

–         No blocking of town entrances entrances or exits both businesses and residential areas.

–         No unreasonable noise or disturbance will be created either at work sites or at other businesses or residential premises

–         No interference with visitors, non-striking employees, contractors or suppliers to Namdeb will be allowed.



It is important that you familiarize yourselves with this document."

[Michael Alexander]

I see that there is a fair turnout gathering down at the MUN offices this fine dusty morning in Omund!

A party mood prevails, with the loud thump thump music wafting across the desolate plains....

[Michael Alexander]

Well about 150 employees went for a march through the town this fine morning.... then headed over to ST.George's Square to sit around and chant at the Admin block, wonder if anyone told them that the mine management relocated to the office block behind the Admin block about 2 years ago...

Noticed a number of policeman have been drafted in from outside the town to control any unruly behaviour, although I have to admit that this particular bunch of protesters seem quite docile compared to the masses in years gone by....

Oh! Well, the Spar is doing quite good trade today, with all the new police in town....