Justicia Shipena
Workers at the Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored) will go on strike from Friday.
This is after six years without any wage increase, following the completion of all legal labour processes.
The Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) said Nored employees have not received salary adjustments despite repeated engagements through recognised union structures.
The union said workers have now exercised their constitutional right to strike.
MUN general secretary George Ampweya said the union views Nored’s conduct as unfair, particularly in how resources are allocated.
“The Union views this as fundamentally unfair and indicative of misplaced priorities, especially in circumstances where senior management and the Board continue to approve excessive subsistence and travel claims for non-essential activities while workers’ livelihoods are systematically neglected,” Ampweya said.
According to Ampweya, the dispute was referred to the office of the labour commissioner, resulting in the issuance of a certificate of unresolved dispute, which triggered the right to strike under the Labour Act.
Ampweya said workers followed all required procedures, including holding a secret ballot that mandated protected industrial action.
“This comes after a secret ballot was duly conducted, with workers mandating protected industrial action,” he said.
As strike rules were being finalised with the appointed conciliator, Ampweya said Nored approached the courts on an urgent basis to block the Labour Commissioner, claiming the dispute resolution process was unlawful.
“As strike rules were being finalised with the designated conciliator, Nored abruptly resorted to urgent court proceedings, seeking to interdict the Labour Commissioner on the spurious basis that the dispute resolution process was allegedly unlawful,” Ampweya said.
The union said it has complied with all provisions of the Labour Act and formally served notice of the strike on both Nored and the office of the labour commissioner.
Ampweya stated that the strike is lawful and will begin on 23 January 2026.
The planned strike follows earlier action by Nored employees.
Three months ago, workers in Ondangwa and Katima Mulilo staged a peaceful demonstration demanding a 6% wage increase.
At the time, employees said the protest followed a public promise by the acting chief executive officer that workers would receive an increment, which has not been fulfilled.
Workers said their wages are not aligned with market standards in the energy and utility sector.
Employees also said they have gone without salary increases for the past seven years, while management agreed to a 3% increment. Workers said the offer is not enough.
They also called for stronger occupational health and safety measures, including proper equipment and training.
