Telecom, Napwu set on collision course

TROUBLE is brewing at Telecom Namibia with the Namibia Public Workers Union (Napwu) threatening industrial action and demanding the dismissal of some senior officials.

The Namibian learned that the union had been angered by the State telecommunications utility’s announcement last week that it was streamlining its operations – a move which could see up to 500 employees losing their jobs. According to sources, the company is now desperately looking for ways to backtrack on that announcement amid threats from the union.The Namibian is in possession of a copy of a strong-worded letter addressed to Telecom Managing Director, Frans Ndoroma, by Napwu on Thursday, in which the union expresses displeasure at the way the company had handled the transformation process, dubbed “optimal employment levels (OEL)”.A week ago, Telecom’s Head of Corporate Communications, Ferdinand Tjombe, confirmed to the NBC that the company had introduced voluntary retrenchment for its staff members who were about to reach retirement age.Tjombe said the company currently has a workforce of 1 500 and that it was over-staffed with about 500 people.According to Tjombe, the targeted people had already been approached with offers for early retirement and benefit packages.In its letter to Ndoroma, Napwu accused the company of “clandestine” behaviour for issuing what it termed an “irresponsible and extremely arrogant” report to the media.”Napwu is concerned that Telecom Namibia has, for reasons best known to itself, announced this publicly to the media without serious engagement and mutual agreement with the duly recognised union,” said the letter.”We have in good faith made our call in the past to the company to change and review its intransigent stance on the issue of optimal employment levels.”Describing the OEL as unacceptable, Napwu said the proposed project could only be implemented once all necessary discussions and agreements with the union have taken place.”If the company continues with this unreasonable attitude and behaviour, we have no choice but to use industrial action as a tool to fight in the company,” the union charged.Napwu then called for the immediate resignation of the General Manager: Human Resources & ST, the leader of the Transformation Unit (TU) and the Manager for HR Projects in the TU.The union did not give reasons for this demand apart from only saying: “Nothing affects employee morale more insidiously than persistent workplace negativity and the failure on the part of HR to do their job.”Yesterday, Tjombe confirmed that the company was withdrawing the statement issued last week to the NBC, but denied that the action has been necessitated by pressure from the union.”It’s (the withdrawal) not out of pressure.It’s only that things were taken out of proportion and this has created panic and uncertainty,” he said.”We issued a written statement to the NBC [last week] on the optimal employment levels, but they really took it out of proportion.The truth is that there is no retrenchment at Telecom and no employee has been offered a package.”Contacted for comment the Executive Chairman of the Napwu Branch at Telecom Namibia, Leonard !Hoaeb, acknowledged that his union was unhappy with last week’s announcement of the purported retrenchments.He was, however, quick to point out that the union and the company management were busy consulting on ways to counter the statement aired by the State broadcaster.”It’s true the union is not happy with what was announced last week, but I can’t reveal details and particulars of our unhappiness now as we are still looking into the matter with the company,” !Hoaeb said.According to sources, the company is now desperately looking for ways to backtrack on that announcement amid threats from the union.The Namibian is in possession of a copy of a strong-worded letter addressed to Telecom Managing Director, Frans Ndoroma, by Napwu on Thursday, in which the union expresses displeasure at the way the company had handled the transformation process, dubbed “optimal employment levels (OEL)”.A week ago, Telecom’s Head of Corporate Communications, Ferdinand Tjombe, confirmed to the NBC that the company had introduced voluntary retrenchment for its staff members who were about to reach retirement age.Tjombe said the company currently has a workforce of 1 500 and that it was over-staffed with about 500 people.According to Tjombe, the targeted people had already been approached with offers for early retirement and benefit packages.In its letter to Ndoroma, Napwu accused the company of “clandestine” behaviour for issuing what it termed an “irresponsible and extremely arrogant” report to the media.”Napwu is concerned that Telecom Namibia has, for reasons best known to itself, announced this publicly to the media without serious engagement and mutual agreement with the duly recognised union,” said the letter.”We have in good faith made our call in the past to the company to change and review its intransigent stance on the issue of optimal employment levels.”Describing the OEL as unacceptable, Napwu said the proposed project could only be implemented once all necessary discussions and agreements with the union have taken place.”If the company continues with this unreasonable attitude and behaviour, we have no choice but to use industrial action as a tool to fight in the company,” the union charged.Napwu then called for the immediate resignation of the General Manager: Human Resources & ST, the leader of the Transformation Unit (TU) and the Manager for HR Projects in the TU.The union did not give reasons for this demand apart from only saying: “Nothing affects employee morale more insidiously than persistent workplace negativity and the failure on the part of HR to do their job.”Yesterday, Tjombe confirmed that the company was withdrawing the statement issued last week to the NBC, but denied that the action has been necessitated by pressure from the union.”It’s (the withdrawal) not out of pressure.It’s only that things were taken out of proportion and this has created panic and uncertainty,” he said.”We issued a written statement to the NBC [last week] on the optimal employment levels, but they really took it out of proportion.The truth is that there is no retrenchment at Telecom and no employee has been offered a package.”Contacted for comment the Executive Chairman of the Napwu Branch at Telecom Namibia, Leonard !Hoaeb, acknowledged that his union was unhappy with last week’s announcement of the purported retrenchments.He was, however, quick to point out that the union and the company management were busy consulting on ways to counter the statement aired by the State broadcaster.”It’s true the union is not happy with what was announced last week, but I can’t reveal details and particulars of our unhappiness now as we are still looking into the matter with the company,” !Hoaeb said.