Lüderitz council strike drags on

THE strike by Lüderitz Town Council workers has entered its second week with no sign of an end.

The workers downed tools after the Namibia Public Worker’s Union (Napwu) and council management reached deadlock in wage negotiations last week Thursday. Workers are calling for a N$350 increase across the board, while council management offered four per cent across the board.Napwu’s Southern Region Co-ordinator, Edwin Chaka, yesterday said that the union is exhausting all avenues in an attempt to press council management to bow to their demands. ‘We’re changing our tactics day and night,’ said Chaka. However, he could not be drawn into elaborating on the tactics. The last meeting between the two parties was last Thursday, according to Chaka.According to reports, the council met behind closed doors yesterday afternoon to discuss ways to end the strike that has crippled services at the harbour town. Residents angered by clogged and overflowing drains and no rubbish removals are expected to stage a protest march tomorrow. Yesterday residents emptied rubbish bins in front of the council offices to vent their anger over poor service delivery, The Namibian was informed. Attempts to get comment from the Council’s CEO, Inge Ipinge, again proved futile yesterday, as she was in meetings.