The Revolutionary Union: Ambitious, Bold, and Counternormative

Written by Aletta Shikololo

In a bold move to challenge the status quo and advocate for significant changes in Namibia’s labour market, the newly registered Revolutionary Union (RU) has set its sights on revolutionising workers’ rights.

Spearheaded by the Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement founded by activist and politician Job Amupanda, the Union obtained official recognition from the labour commissioner in April 2023, in pursuit of a mission to represent and empower workers in both the public and mining sectors.

PulseHR engaged in a brief conversation with Julius Natangwe, the Proletariat Central Secretary of the Union. During the interview, Natangwe shed light on the Union’s purpose, priorities, and aspirations.

Natangwe shared that RU recognises the “current exploitation” of workers by those in control of the means of production and that the union aims to bring about a paradigm shift in labour relations and foster a more fair and equitable society. He emphasised the detrimental impact of a capitalist mindset which prioritises profit over the well-being of employees.

“The truth is that the labour market is being influenced by a capitalist mindset, where those in control of the means of production exploit employees to maximise profits without considering the consequences. It’s disheartening that many of these individuals are foreign investors who, after exploiting our resources, leave our country, leaving the local population with nothing,” explained Natangwe.

Natangwe further highlighted the need for a departure from the traditional union model, where some unions have financial stakes in the companies they represent.

He said RU is determined to remain independent and solely rely on membership fees for income.

“We are different because all our income is only going to come from membership fees; we are not going to have shares because that will defeat the purpose,” Natangwe stated, adding that some trade Unions congresses are sponsored by employers of workers they represent.

RU also aims to fight several pressing issues plaguing Namibia’s labour market, including the prevalence of labour brokers and the channelling of employees’ pension funds.

He emphasised the urgency of providing access to pension funds during the ongoing economic crisis, which could significantly alleviate the hardships faced by many workers.

“In this economic crisis, if people can access their pension money, it would help many people, but because things are limited, people are left to suffer. So, we will fight for these things,” affirmed Natangwe.

Also highlighting the exploitation of workers in the mining sector, he said there are diamond polishers who earn as little as N$1 500; while RU welcomes investors interested in doing business in Namibia, they firmly advocate for fair wages and ensuring that workers benefit from the profits generated.

In addition to fighting against labour brokers and the practice of outsourcing labour, Natangwe stressed the importance of direct relationships between employers and employees, without middlemen who he said often exploit workers.

“We have received numerous calls from workers in other sectors who want us to represent them. Unfortunately, at the moment, we are constrained to these two sectors. Still, we are actively working on implementing additional strategies to accommodate individuals outside of the public and mining sectors,” he added.

According to the Union’s leadership, the motto “Namibian employees unite,” signifies RU’s long-term vision for all employees to support and protect one another, thereby ending the exploitation of labourers. RU currently boasts nearly 1 000 members and represents 15 registered companies. Natangwe expressed satisfaction with the progress, citing the high public outcry as a testament to the need for change.

“We are a baby that is walking and no more crawling. We have recruited various companies, and we are up for the task,” said Natangwe

The truth is that the labour market is being influenced by a capitalist mindset, where those in control of the means of production exploit employees to maximise profits without considering the consequences.