AR pushes to recruit police officers
Union appeals to police chief
The union's representation will be limited to disciplinary enquiries and will not include bargaining for improved benefits, Natangwe said.
The Affirmative Repositioning Movement (AR) says a substantial number of police officers have indicated a willingness to be represented by its recently established labour arm, the Revolutionary Union.
Union head Julius Natangwe reached out to police boss, Inspector-General Joseph Shikongo, to implore him to consider the union’s request to recruit members, as he had the final say on police officers’ union representation.
Natangwe said the nature of the work police officers undertake necessitated legal representation.
“We conducted a survey among a sample of the workplace of the Namibian Police, which revealed that a substantial number of the members are willing to join the Revolutionary Union, specifically to represent them in the event of disciplinary enquiries - which are frequent due to the nature of their job,” he said.
“It was our advice that prior permission shall be granted by the inspector-general before them joining trade unions. It is therefore on that basis we are hereby approaching your good office to permit us engaging and possibly recruiting members of [the Namibian Police],” he wrote to Shikongo.
Not for salary demands
According to Natangwe, the union would be limited to representation during disciplinary enquiries and would not include bargaining for improved benefits in order to ensure the proper control of the force and to maintain discipline among members.
“During our aforesaid informal engagements, it was further revealed that when members are faced with disciplinary cases, the members find themselves in rigid situations of paying high legal costs to hire legal practitioners,” he said.
Police officers often had to approach hearings without legal advice, thus risking their jobs, he added.
“Taking into account the nature of the organisation, we are prepared to engage your management to shape up the working modalities between the parties should this request obtain your favourable consideration,” the union head wrote.
Efforts to reach Shikongo for comment on the matter proved futile.
Exploring an avenue
Labour researcher Michael Akuupa said there was nothing untoward about members of the Namibian Police Force being part of a union.
“They belong to the security cluster, which is why they are not unionised. However, in other countries, like South Africa, [they are],” he said.
Akuupa added that there could be a provision made for police officers to get union membership, if they demanded it.
“It is an issue of exploring an avenue through which it can be done.”
Union head Julius Natangwe reached out to police boss, Inspector-General Joseph Shikongo, to implore him to consider the union’s request to recruit members, as he had the final say on police officers’ union representation.
Natangwe said the nature of the work police officers undertake necessitated legal representation.
“We conducted a survey among a sample of the workplace of the Namibian Police, which revealed that a substantial number of the members are willing to join the Revolutionary Union, specifically to represent them in the event of disciplinary enquiries - which are frequent due to the nature of their job,” he said.
“It was our advice that prior permission shall be granted by the inspector-general before them joining trade unions. It is therefore on that basis we are hereby approaching your good office to permit us engaging and possibly recruiting members of [the Namibian Police],” he wrote to Shikongo.
Not for salary demands
According to Natangwe, the union would be limited to representation during disciplinary enquiries and would not include bargaining for improved benefits in order to ensure the proper control of the force and to maintain discipline among members.
“During our aforesaid informal engagements, it was further revealed that when members are faced with disciplinary cases, the members find themselves in rigid situations of paying high legal costs to hire legal practitioners,” he said.
Police officers often had to approach hearings without legal advice, thus risking their jobs, he added.
“Taking into account the nature of the organisation, we are prepared to engage your management to shape up the working modalities between the parties should this request obtain your favourable consideration,” the union head wrote.
Efforts to reach Shikongo for comment on the matter proved futile.
Exploring an avenue
Labour researcher Michael Akuupa said there was nothing untoward about members of the Namibian Police Force being part of a union.
“They belong to the security cluster, which is why they are not unionised. However, in other countries, like South Africa, [they are],” he said.
Akuupa added that there could be a provision made for police officers to get union membership, if they demanded it.
“It is an issue of exploring an avenue through which it can be done.”
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