Nico Smit
13 June 2011
The week-long strike over a wage dispute by employees of the Plastic Packaging group of companies was finally called off on Thursday evening after an agreement was reached by the two parties.
Employees based at Plastic Packaging and Polyoak Packaging Namibia in Windhoek, and Namibia Polymer Recyclers had been on strike since last Monday after their employer refused to meet a wage and housing allowance increase demand.
Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union (Manwu) Windhoek Branch Project Coordinator Justina Jonas said that their members had called for a N$150 per month wage increase and N$300 per month housing allowance increase.
Manwu representative met with Plastic Packaging management last Monday, however, the meeting ended unsuccessfully as neither party gave in to the other’s demands.
From last Tuesday, the striking workers pitched tents outside the premises at Polyoak Packaging Namibia and Plastic Packaging, where they camped out for the entire week.
Late Thursday afternoon, Manwu representatives again met with the firm’s management, as well as with an official from the Office of the Labour Commissioner to mediate the negotiations. The meeting was originally scheduled because of alleged breaking of the rules of the strike, but Jonas said on Friday morning that the parties had made a breakthrough in their negotiations.
Plastic Packaging management and Manwu representatives agreed on a N$280 per month increase for the workers, which would include an increase in basic pay, as well as housing allowance.
Jonas said that the increase would be effected immediately and that the workers would receive the increase backdated from March this year.
Plastic Packing management could not be reached for comment.
AllAfrica – All the Time