Meatco employees refuse to budge on overtime

WORKERS at Meatco’s Windhoek abattoir are continuing their boycott to work overtime after a meeting between management and employee representatives, on salary and wage increases, failed to reach an agreement.

The follow-up wage negotiations meeting between Meatco Management and employee representatives, including the two unions (Namibia Wholesale and Retail Workers Union and Namibia Food and Allied Workers Union), were initially scheduled for April 1 and 2. The meeting was, however, adjourned at the request of the unions which wanted more time to verify the number of their members within Meatco.A statement from Meatco said the NWRWU had however to convince their members to resume working overtime.Nafau members on the other hand were willing to work overtime but were reportedly being intimidated by other workers and were therefore not prepared to take the risk.The working of overtime has always been done on a voluntary basis in the absence of a written agreement between Meatco and its employees.”As wage and salary negotiations have not reached a deadlock, the decision of workers to refuse the working of overtime is being viewed as unlawful by Meatco Management” said the Human Resources Manager, Willem /Nanub.Meatco Management has thus decided to introduce a no-work-no-pay principle where employees will only be paid for actual hours worked.Producers are hard hit by this action of Windhoek Abattoir employees since they suffer additional financial costs for the additional grazing time of market ready slaughter cattle.This action will also affect the grading of their cattle when it is eventually slaughtered.Marketing Manager, Andre Mouton said: “Meatco will feel the pinch in the market as chances are that we will loose premium slots in the European market as they are entering their summer months when offers of premium prices are higher then later in the year.”The meeting was, however, adjourned at the request of the unions which wanted more time to verify the number of their members within Meatco.A statement from Meatco said the NWRWU had however to convince their members to resume working overtime.Nafau members on the other hand were willing to work overtime but were reportedly being intimidated by other workers and were therefore not prepared to take the risk.The working of overtime has always been done on a voluntary basis in the absence of a written agreement between Meatco and its employees.”As wage and salary negotiations have not reached a deadlock, the decision of workers to refuse the working of overtime is being viewed as unlawful by Meatco Management” said the Human Resources Manager, Willem /Nanub.Meatco Management has thus decided to introduce a no-work-no-pay principle where employees will only be paid for actual hours worked.Producers are hard hit by this action of Windhoek Abattoir employees since they suffer additional financial costs for the additional grazing time of market ready slaughter cattle.This action will also affect the grading of their cattle when it is eventually slaughtered.Marketing Manager, Andre Mouton said: “Meatco will feel the pinch in the market as chances are that we will loose premium slots in the European market as they are entering their summer months when offers of premium prices are higher then later in the year.”