Chaos at ‘bankrupt’ NAC

Total confusion reigns over the so-called retrenchments of Namibian Airports Company (NAC) staff, with its management and Board of Directors nowhere to be found to clear up the issue. Employees can only hope that they will be informed about their futures as soon as possible.

Staff members are utterly confused; with some claiming they will be retrenched while others truly believe they will be reinstated in their old positions immediately after their “retrenchments”.

What made matters worse is that the unions Namibia Public Workers Union (Napwu) and Namibia Transport and Allied Workers Union (Natau) also seem to be in the dark. Even Labour Commissioner Bro-Mathew Shinguadja could not shed light on the issue.

Reports surfaced on Monday that NAC will retrench all of its 280 employees, management included and that they will have to re-apply for their positions at a lower salary. NAC remain mum on the situation.

It was, however, learnt that the Board of Directors were in a meeting yesterday to discuss the issue and nobody was available to comment.

At the same time it came to light that employees have not receive any retrenchment letters yet and that the company seems to be still in the process of consultations.

Shinguadja yesterday also told the Namibian Sun that he has not received any notice of retrenchments from NAC. “All I know of this is what I read in the media.”

He stressed that before any retrenchments can take place the Labour Commissioner and the representing union has to be officially notified, at least one month in advance.

“This has not happened and Napwu has also not been informed of any retrenchments.”

However, when speaking to John Kwedhi, the General Secretary of Natau who now has the majority employee representation, he said retrenchments will start from March 1. Natau has taken over the majority representation at NAC, currently representing 147 members while Napwu only has 65 members.

“We want to be part of the negotiations and although we have approached the management there has been no feedback from them, said Kwedhi.

According to him the situation at the NAC is very critical; adding that the main problem currently is that Natau do not have the recognition agreement giving them the authority to negotiate on behalf of members.

Even though Natau has applied for the recognition agreement more than three months ago and maintains the majority of members at the company, Napwu is still the union holding the recognition agreement.

Kwedhi added that they have also turned to the Labour Commissioner for advice on the way forward.

Workers have expressed their concern about the retrenchments, not knowing if they will still have a job at the company.

The new “restructured company” will reportedly take form as from April 1. Some workers have indicated that they are scared of losing their jobs as cut backs are expected while others say that the company informed them that workers will be immediately reinstated in their positions and nobody will lose their jobs.

The retrenchment process follows shortly after reports surfaced of the financial dilemma the NAC finds itself in due to mismanagement of finances. Apparently the NAC pay structure has completely collapsed over the years and people that have been in the company for a long period are paid the most, irrespective of what job they do.

A shop steward at NAC also added that the company informed them that it is on the verge of bankruptcy.

“They told us that all the workers are above market and new offers will be made to us, but with new terms and conditions and new (lower) salaries.

According to the shop steward the offers for their old job will be made from April 1. “Nobody will lose their jobs; however, if you are not happy with the offer, you can take your pension and leave.”

Employees see it as a slap in the face for the years they have been working and “this is the thanks we receive”. They will apparently receive retrenchment packages of a weeks’ salary for every year they have worked.

The company’s wage bill has apparently doubled from N$30 million to N$60 million.

click to enlarge WHERE TO NOW? NAC employees are in the dark over job security at the company and might be informed today on the way forward © Feodora Von Francois