No work, no payThe president has warned teachers that going on strike would cost them dearly. Hage warns teachers The government is under no circumstances prepared to give in to teachers’ demand for an 8% salary increase.This was the presidency’s firm stance late Friday afternoon, when President Hage Geingob called a press briefing in the presence of his full team of advisors to discuss the Namibia National Teachers’ Union’s (Nantu’s) threat of strike action starting next week, and other pressing issues ahead of his trip to the United States.
“I appeal to teachers to understand: the loss is going to be greater on the side of those opting to strike,” the minister of education, arts and culture, Katrina Hanse-Himarwa, said when asked to explain government’s position.
“An eight percent increase to you will mean N$200 to N$300 [a month] more, that is what ‘we’ are willing to die for here,” she said, contrasting that to the additional N$600 million it would cost the government.
“Once you go on strike, everything is off the table,” Geingob said, noting that the Namibia Public Workers’ Union (Napwu) had accepted the government’s 5% offer.
“Those going for the strike are trying to make the country ungovernable. I appeal to teachers to reconsider. We are a democracy, and our laws provide that workers have the right to withhold their labour. Government equally has a right to declare a lockout,” the president said.
Citing pending grade 12 examinations and Namibia’s recent re-evaluation by global credit-rating agency Fitch, Geingob said those leading workers to industrial action were simply appealing to their emotions.
“To be clear, teachers opting to strike will forfeit their salaries for the duration of that period, and will not be entitled to back pay,” Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said.
“Furthermore, government is under no legal obligation to, following the strike, award them the 5% increase given to their colleagues. If that should be the case, it would simply be due to compassion, if so decided,” she said.
Geingob also used the occasion to defend his 24-day trip to the US to attend the UN General Assembly after critics complained about the cost.
“Being aware of costs, we have reduced the size of the delegation. Everyone going is also not staying for the full duration of the trip, but have very specific functions to fulfil and then return home,” he said.
Geingob’s delegation, including security personnel, was said to total 33.
“I ensure that when I travel, I make optimal use of my time there, not just sit in a hotel. There are side activities arranged,” Geingob said, condemning what he said were ongoing campaigns in the media to cast his international visits in a bad light.
“You ask us to do these things. Some of us are old enough to not just look forward to such events for enjoyment. But there are some, it seems, who believe they are the only ones concerned about saving, or concerned about the poor,” he said.
Geingob left for the US on Saturday.
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