Striking fishermen and companies in labour court DTA secretary-general Manuel Ngaringombe announced yesterday that striking fishermen and several fishing companies will be in the labour court from 10 to 17 October in order to try and reach an amicable solution to their longstanding dispute. More than 1 000 fishermen from Walvis Bay and Lüderitz initiated an illegal strike through the Metal, Mining, Maritime and Construction (MMMC) union on 27 October 2015.
Ngaringombe expressed the hope that a resolution will be reached that will see the fishermen resume duty before the next vessels go to sea.
He also pleaded with the parties involved in the labour matter to approach the case in good faith and to set their pride aside and genuinely seek a lasting solution to the problem which could potentially have devastating effects on the lives of fishermen and severely affect unemployment and poverty levels in Namibia.
Should proceedings prove unsuccessful the DTA will resume its previously stated action of calling for and mobilising not only a fishing industry strike, but a national unemployment march.
Following a meeting with the fishermen in September DTA president McHenry Venaani issued a 30-day ultimatum for the government to resolve the 11-month impasse.
The 2 October deadline passed without any response from government or attempts to engage with the fishermen.
Confederation of Namibian Fishing Associations (CNFA) chairperson Matti Amukwa released a statement in September and quashed hopes that striking fishermen might return to their jobs. He said hundreds of Namibians were already employed on vessels that were deserted by the former fishermen in 2015.
OTIS FINCK