After a year which saw the highest ever number of strikes and stoppages in Namibian industry, unions affiliated to the SWAPO-aligned National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW) began 1988 by consolidating gains made in 1987, and seeking to win new membership. This was most marked in the mining sector, where the Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) experienced strong and steady growth in support, and in the large attendance at rallies called by the NUNW to celebrate May Day. Continuing repressive action against the NUNW included the refusal of passports to union officials intending to go abroad.
MUN CONGRESS
In January the MUN held its second annual conference. Originally scheduled for November 1987, it was postponed because of the detention of key leaders, including Ben ULENGA, the general secretary. The union's membership had grown from the 3,000 miners represented at its launch in November 1986 to 9,000 signed-up members by January 1988 (over half the workforce in the sector). Its largest branch was at Consolidated Diamond Mines (CDM) with 4,600 members, followed by the Tsumeb Corporation Ltd and Rossing Uranium with 2,800 and 1,300 members respectively.
At the conference union officials reported back on developments over the previous year and a new executive was elected.
The conference did not however adopt formal resolutions, because representatives felt that not enough mineworkers had been consulted on matters of policy. A second extra-ordinary conference was convened in February to debate and adopt resolutions committing the MUN to a comprehensive programme of shop-floor goals and a political policy. The union resolved to campaign for a minimum wage linked to the rate of inflation, a 40-hour working week and improvements to other benefits such as pensions. Delegates also formally committed the union to support the campaign for independence through the immediate implementation of UN Resolution 435, and to take 'political action to defend and advance the interests of its members'.
A 'LIVING WAGE'
The low wage levels on the mines and in other sectors of the economy seen against a background of rising transport, electricity and food prices, prompted the NUNW to launch a campaign for a living wage on May Day. It commits unions over the next year to seek wage rises commensurate with the basic needs of workers. Details of the campaign were announced at a series of May Day rallies - the largest to date - in Windhoek, Luderitz, Karasburg, Mariental, Keetmanshoop, Arandis, Swakopmund, Otjiwarongo, Otavi and Tsumeb. The Windhoek rally was attended by 6,000 people.
Low wages were the cause of at least three strikes in the building and food sectors. In late February employees of Nico Bouers Contractors, a Windhoek construction company, raised grievances about pay. The employer summarily dismissed 15 workers and 21 other workers left the site in solidarity with them. The Metal and Allied Workers Union, affiliated to the NUNW, took legal advice on their behalf.
In April, 36 workers were similarly dismissed from Danken Bricks, near Brakwater, in a dispute over a pay rise.
In May there was a wage strike by 230 workers, members of the Namibian Food and Allied Workers Union (NAFAU) at the Hartlief Meat Factory in Windhoek, rejecting pay increases offered by management as too low. The workers demands were linked to the NUNW's 'Living Wage' Campaign and it was the first instance of a dispute arising from the campaign. Shortly after the strike began workers agreed to return to work while negotiations about higher increases took place between their committee, NAFAU and the employers
REPRESSION
As unions consolidated, the authorities refined their repression. Guest delegations representing overseas mining unions were refused visas to attend the MUN conference. Earlier, in January, the NUNW's treasurer Anton Lubowski was refused a passport for the fourth time, preventing him from attending a conference of the International Labour Organisation in Geneva.
Jason Angula, SWAPO Secretary for Labour, who was detained in October last year, remained in custody at the end of May. He was reportedly held at the Osire interrogation centre under the Terrorism Act.
