Ondangwa council employees strike over salaries

Thirty-eight Ondangwa town council employees yesterday held a strike in front of the council office, demanding a 10% salary increase. Namibia Public Workers Union northern regional coordinator Nelson Nghituanapo said the council and the union agreed on a 10% increase, but the ministry of urban and rural development only approved a 3% increment, which employees are not satisfied with. The council yesterday issued a statement in which it stated that many of its services have been interrupted by the industrial action.

“This is affecting our cashier points and the cash hall is temporarily closed,” it read, with the council urging residents to pay for services via electronic bank transfers.

Nghituanapo, however, said the employees will strike until common ground has been found.

“If the [urban and rural development] minister wants the employees to go back to work, he must improve his offer.”