Minister slams unions over illegal strikes

DEPUTY Minister of Labour, Rosalia Nghidinwa, has scolded trade union leaders who mislead employees instead of assuming the role of responsible leaders.

Addressing union leaders and the management of the Rosh Pinah Corporation on Thursday, Nghidinwa spoke out against recent “illegal and sporadic industrial actions”, which she called “unacceptable”. She said illegal industrial action would no longer be tolerated by Government as it was detrimental to the country’s social and economic conditions.Nghidinwa said there appeared to be serious problems between employers, trade unions and their members caused by wrong perceptions and hardened attitudes towards each other.”These labour interests are worrying and not conducive to good labour relations and fair collective bargaining principles,” she said.The Deputy Minister claimed that incitement, provocation and inability on the part of some trade unions to follow correct procedures during labour disputes mainly contributed to volatile labour relations.Nghidinwa alleged that some trade union leaders lacked skills and were being led by ill-informed members.In a broadside against some in the trade union leadership, she warned them to stop self-enrichment schemes with the contributions from members.”The culprits of these self-enrichment schemes should be exposed and disciplinary action be taken against them,” she added.In the same breath, Nghidinwa lashed out against employers who were only interested in making quick money in the guise of investment.She called on them to stop provoking workers through “antagonistic behaviour and counter-productive attitudes”.Rosh Pinah Mine Workers Union chairman Joshua Mbangula said that there were “some elements” within the trade unions who attempted to bypass labour laws and went ahead with illegal strikes.Mining Manager Deon Garbers promised Nghidinwa that his company would move closer to the employees to improve labour relations.She said illegal industrial action would no longer be tolerated by Government as it was detrimental to the country’s social and economic conditions.Nghidinwa said there appeared to be serious problems between employers, trade unions and their members caused by wrong perceptions and hardened attitudes towards each other.”These labour interests are worrying and not conducive to good labour relations and fair collective bargaining principles,” she said.The Deputy Minister claimed that incitement, provocation and inability on the part of some trade unions to follow correct procedures during labour disputes mainly contributed to volatile labour relations.Nghidinwa alleged that some trade union leaders lacked skills and were being led by ill-informed members.In a broadside against some in the trade union leadership, she warned them to stop self-enrichment schemes with the contributions from members.”The culprits of these self-enrichment schemes should be exposed and disciplinary action be taken against them,” she added.In the same breath, Nghidinwa lashed out against employers who were only interested in making quick money in the guise of investment.She called on them to stop provoking workers through “antagonistic behaviour and counter-productive attitudes”.Rosh Pinah Mine Workers Union chairman Joshua Mbangula said that there were “some elements” within the trade unions who attempted to bypass labour laws and went ahead with illegal strikes.Mining Manager Deon Garbers promised Nghidinwa that his company would move closer to the employees to improve labour relations.