Namibia gov't takes teachers to labor court over planned strike

In a last bid to avert the imminent indefinite nationwide teachers strike set to start on Oct. 13, the government of Namibia has lodged an urgent court application with the Labor Court.

Teachers in Namibia resolved to go on strike after their demands for an 8 percent salary increase was denied by the government.

They then voted to decide whether they should go on strike or not. It emerged that about 19,000 out of 20,000 who voted said they wanted to strike.

The union then engaged the government as a last resort before announcing the date of the strike but the three-day meeting that was presided over by a conciliator did not yield anything.

As a result, the union then announced that they would embark on the strike on Oct. 13 after giving the government a week's notice.

According to court papers seen by Xinhua Saturday, the government is seeking an interdict to stop teachers from striking and wants the Namibia National Teachers Union to give a notice of 30 days instead of the seven days given.

The Office of the Prime Minister that filed the papers dated Oct. 6, also argues that the seven-day notice does not give the government ample time to put other alternatives in place. Endit