Union demands reinstatement of suspended workers

RUNDU - The Namibia Farm Workers Union (NAFWU) in the Kavango East region has demanded the reinstatement of three employees working at the Mashare Irrigation project who were suspended about a month ago.

The union’s regional coordinator and national treasurer, Simaho Seke, in a letter addressed in April to the company’s managing director, Lauren La Grange Basson cited unfair disciplinary procedures, as verbal warnings were overlooked when the trio was suspended.

Herman Kauma, Lukas Kandjimi and Frans Mungenga were suspended for allegedly threatening to burn down company property and insubordination for failing to carry out orders from management.

Kauma and Kandjimi have worked for the company since 2011, while Mungenga was employed since 2007.

“We have seen that the cases raised on these workers happened on different dates. So when those incidents happened, what did you do about them? Did you give these workers a verbal warning and did you solve these matters on those dates and if not, why now? Asked the regional coordinator.

In response to the union’s demand, Le Grange indicated in a letter that the three employees were suspended after they were found guilty for allegedly refusing management orders after they refused to receive their uniforms, aggressive behaviour for allegedly pointing fingers at management and intimidating other employees not to accept the uniforms.

“This pattern of conduct of the now-suspended personnel has caused repeated disruptions to the work and direct financial losses for the company. When seen in context with the most recent event, it is clear that disciplinary action is justified,” said Le Grange.

The irrigation project is located in the Mashare constituency, farming blueberries and other agricultural products.