The National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW), which represents 55,000 Namibian workers, has formally constituted itself as a federation and is campaigning for SWAPO in the independence elections.
The consolidation of the NUNW follows the rapid spread of trade unionism over the past three years through six affiliates based in major sectors of the Namibian economy. On 11 March a new NUNW affiliate was launched, the Namibian National Teachers Union (NANTU). It aims to unite all teachers, previously organised mainly into regionally-based associations, and came after over a year of consultations. Added impetus for the new union came from the inability of teachers to respond in a co-ordinated way to nationwide school boycotts last year. NANTU was almost immediately involved in political protests. In consultation with SWAPO, NANTU will encourage teachers to involve themselves in the independence process.
Formed in the 1970s, the NUNW was driven underground by repression and its leadership exiled. It was formally reconstituted at the end of June at a Consolidation Conference in Windhoek. Nearly four hundred delegates representing all the NUNW affiliates adopted a wide range of resolutions. They committed the NUNW to fighting for a SWAPO election victory, building solidarity with South African unions in the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), fighting for a living wage and organising unorganised workers. The commitment to support SWAPO in the elections came after the NUNW's most powerful affiliate, the Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) made a similar decision at its congress in February.
The NUNW congress elected the SWAPO leader John ya Otto as general secretary and John Shaetonhodi from the Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) as president. It adopted the COSATU organising principle of 'One Union, One Industry, One Country, One Federation'. The federation also committed itself to extending its worker co-operatives for unemployed workers, who constitute a significant proportion of its membership.
The congress also resolved to continue a campaign against privatisation. In March the NUNW affiliates had mobilised thousands of workers to protest at the sell-off of the railways, the privatisation of hospital kitchens and plans to privatise electricity, water supplies and the post and telecommunications system. The unions said that the planned sell-offs would raise the cost of services and 'strip the future Namibian government of power over its own infrastructure'.
Many of the NUNW affiliates were involved in disputes and strikes during the first half of 1989. At the Department of Water Affairs, workers organised by the Namibian Public Workers Union (NAPWU) went on strike over a foreman's refusal to re-employ a worker who had been on holiday. At the Swavleis meat-processing plant at Okahandja workers organised by the largest NUNW affiliate, the Namibian Food and Allied Workers Union (NAFAU), refused to work overtime during a wage dispute. At MKU Enterprises in Okahandja, two representatives of the Metal and Allied Namibia Workers Union (MANWU) were arrested and charged with trespass when they tried to negotiate the reinstatement of sacked workers. A planned strike by MUN workers at Rossing uranium mine was called off in May after management obtained a Supreme Court interdict on the grounds that the action would have violated a union recognition agreement.
In April NAFAU negotiated its first formal recognition agreement when it was recognised as a 'bargaining agent' by the Lalandii Fishing Company in Luderitz. Since the first recognition agreement with an NUNW union was signed by the CDM diamond mine and the MUN in September last year, this has been an important aspect of the federation's drive to strengthen its base.
The NUNW unions have committed themselves both to advancing the shop-floor interests of their members and campaigning around their wider concerns during the transition to independence. Although the unions are autonomous, they have firmly aligned themselves with SWAPO on the grounds that a SWAPO government would create the most favourable conditions for workers. The close relationship between SWAPO and the NUNW was underlined on May Day, when NUNW rallies attended by tens of thousands of workers in all parts of the country were addressed by SWAPO speakers.
It was also revealed that Simon ABEB still remains in custody. He appeared in the Swakopmund court in July facing charges arising out of the attempted bombing of a restaurant in the town in June 1988. An explosive device was discovered and defused. Abeb was due to appear again in the Windhoek Regional Court on 11 July. Two other awaiting-trial prisoners remained in custody: Eino MUULE and Haidula ANDREAS.
Leonard SHEEHAMA was also excluded from the amnesty and remains on Death Row in Pretoria.
