Napwu and Nust begin engagements

The Namibia University of Science and Technology’s (Nust) management together with the Namibia Public Workers Union (Napwu) have begun engagements on concerns raised by the union on behalf of the staff.

This was said in a statement issued by Nust spokesperson John Haufiku.

According to Haufiku, the first meeting was held on Friday last week.

“This meeting served as a first of a series of planned meetings that will take place between Nust management and Napwu to discuss various concerns raised by the union on behalf of the staff,” he said.

Haufiku said that the union initially addressed the concerns to the Nust council, but were informed to begin their engagements with the Nust management first.

“In the unlikely event that Nust management and Napwu fail to resolve certain issues, then only will matters be escalated to the Nust council,” he said.

He added that the first meeting was attended by senior members from both the university and the union, while deliberations mainly focussed on planning and proposed dates of engagements that will take place.

The second meeting is scheduled to take place in early May, Haufiku said.

Last month Napwu issued a letter stating that Nust had been accused of unfair labour practices, tribalism, policy manipulation and maladministration by its employees.

This letter, which was addressed to the chairperson of the council, Florette Nakusera, alleged that Nust’s management had engaged in an unlawful restructuring exercise, among other grievances.

Napwu claimed that the institution-wide restructuring exercise is being conducted in secret, with no stakeholder engagement to date, and that the human resources department has not responded to staff enquiries about the changes.