NTTU commands all taxis to strike JANA-MARI SMITH Namibia Transport and Taxi Union (NTTU) boss Werner Januarie has urged all Windhoek taxi drivers to join a mass taxi strike on Monday, while the Namibia Bus and Taxi Association (Nabta) warned that the strike would be illegal.
In a press statement issued by Nabta yesterday, secretary-general Pendapala Anakathingo warned that the NTTU did not have the mandate to call a strike and highlighted that Nabta was the officially recognised organisation dealing with public transport issues.
“Nabta is hereby informing all transport operators to continue with their operation as usual and the public not to panic over the service interruption but to remain calm until further notice,” the statement read.
Anakathingo told Namibian Sun that without Nabta’s explicit approval, the NTTU would be engaging in an illegal action.
“The NTTU does not have the mandate to call for a strike. As a union they can only demand salaries or other benefits for employees, but not anything else,” he said.
He said he welcomed NTTU’s input but Nabta “cannot support something that is done outside of the rules”.
The statement issued yesterday said Nabta did not condone the strike and further highlighted ongoing work being done on behalf of drivers.
Nabta was in consultations on a bus and taxi fare increase that would become effective from June or July, Anakathingo said.
NTTU’s Januarie yesterday said the strike was still on, and his instructions to all operators were clear.
“My command is I do not want to see any taxi driving around on that day. Not a single taxi.”
He said: “if anything happens on that day to someone who is found operating, we cannot be held accountable.”
Januarie said he sympathised with commuters who use taxis, but they should keep in mind that they too have unions that bargain on their behalf.
“Allow the taxi union to do the work on behalf of taxi drivers.”
He extended a wholesale invitation to all Namibians to join the strike in solidarity with taxi drivers.
“The country must come to a standstill,” he said.
Januarie said the striking drivers would congregate at the City Police headquarters on Monday morning and proceed from there.
The planned strike would include an indefinite picket by taxi drivers at the ministry of works and transport, Januarie said.
He said the striking drivers would hand over a memorandum to the permanent secretary of transport and were demanding immediate “appropriate and satisfactory answers”.
He warned that unless their demands were met immediately, “we are not going to move or start operations again”.
A primary issue for the union is traffic fines, which Januarie argues are out of proportion to the average income of a taxi driver.
“Traffic fines must be reduced immediately on the day of the strike. They are unconstitutional and unjustified. On average, taxi drivers earn between N$1 800 and N$2 500 a month, but you can get a single fine of N$4 000.”
He added that despite the high fines, authorities have not improved or expanded taxi facilities.
“The authorities are failing dismally to perform the work they should do.”
Another thorn in the side of the taxi union is the lack of recognition for the industry.
“The other issue is immediate recognition of taxi drivers in Namibia. All their effort and work they do for the nation. The industry needs to formalised so that taxi drivers are recognised by the whole of government.”