Guards plan to strike

SECURITY guards around Namibia are set to strike from today unless their demands for salary increases are met.

The Security Guard and Watchmen Union (NASGWU) and the Namibian Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Natau) have given security guard employers a deadline of 14h00 today to reconsider their proposals on wage and salary increments. Failure to agree to the demands will result in a national strike, the two unions told the media yesterday.Natau Secretary General John Kwedhi said his union had proposed a minimum wage of N$3,90 per hour and a salary increase of 15 per cent across the board.”To our surprise the Security Association of Namibia (SAN) representative informed us that their council has passed a resolution that they will not negotiate salary increments, but only minimum wage for entry level,” said Kwedhi.SAN represents employers of security guards around the country.Kwedhi said the SAN resolution disregarded the contributions security guards were making to the prevention of crime in Namibia.”Security employees have endured a high degree of exploitation for many years and it is high time the unions stand up and put this treatment to an end, and this is the right time.”The deadlock came about despite a memorandum of understanding signed by Natau, NASGWU and SAN in 2005 which specifically made provision for negotiations to promote fair and acceptable labour practices between employers and employees.”Therefore we are giving a clear notice to law enforcement agencies, namely City Police and NamPol, that security employees will withdraw their services from the streets if their demands are not met,” Kwedhi said.However, Kwedhi said that the union’s action would not affect Oshana Security Services in Oshakati and Eagle Night Watch, as they have increased their wages.Meanwhile, SAN alerted their clients yesterday about a possible national strike.In a letter sent out to its members, SAN stated that while it and the unions were recently engaged in minimum wage negotiations on entry-level jobs in the security industry, NATAU and NASGWU were of the opinion that they may negotiate on all matters related to conditions of employment in the industry.The letter said SAN advised the unions that other conditions of employment could be negotiated with individual security companies.This, according to the letter, led to a disagreement between SAN and the unions.The unions allegedly left the meeting and threatened with a national strike if SAN did not lend an ear to their requests with regards to employment conditions.”The result of something like this could be very negative.It could have a serious financial impact, as well as encourage crime,” a security company owner in Walvis Bay said.”We will do all in our power to protect their property and make special arrangements in case the strike does realise.”Failure to agree to the demands will result in a national strike, the two unions told the media yesterday.Natau Secretary General John Kwedhi said his union had proposed a minimum wage of N$3,90 per hour and a salary increase of 15 per cent across the board.”To our surprise the Security Association of Namibia (SAN) representative informed us that their council has passed a resolution that they will not negotiate salary increments, but only minimum wage for entry level,” said Kwedhi.SAN represents employers of security guards around the country.Kwedhi said the SAN resolution disregarded the contributions security guards were making to the prevention of crime in Namibia.”Security employees have endured a high degree of exploitation for many years and it is high time the unions stand up and put this treatment to an end, and this is the right time.”The deadlock came about despite a memorandum of understanding signed by Natau, NASGWU and SAN in 2005 which specifically made provision for negotiations to promote fair and acceptable labour practices between employers and employees.”Therefore we are giving a clear notice to law enforcement agencies, namely City Police and NamPol, that security employees will withdraw their services from the streets if their demands are not met,” Kwedhi said.However, Kwedhi said that the union’s action would not affect Oshana Security Services in Oshakati and Eagle Night Watch, as they have increased their wages.Meanwhile, SAN alerted their clients yesterday about a possible national strike.In a letter sent out to its members, SAN stated that while it and the unions were recently engaged in minimum wage negotiations on entry-level jobs in the security industry, NATAU and NASGWU were of the opinion that they may negotiate on all matters related to conditions of employment in the industry. The letter said SAN advised the unions that other conditions of employment could be negotiated with individual security companies.This, according to the letter, led to a disagreement between SAN and the unions.The unions allegedly left the meeting and threatened with a national strike if SAN did not lend an ear to their requests with regards to employment conditions.”The result of something like this could be very negative.It could have a serious financial impact, as well as encourage crime,” a security company owner in Walvis Bay said.”We will do all in our power to protect their property and make special arrangements in case the strike does realise.”