National Union of Namibian Workers
The National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW) is the largest national trade union center in Namibia. It was originally established as a general workers union in April 1970 through a resolution of the 1969/70 South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO) party congress in Tanzania.[1]:5 In 1978, the NUNW affiliated to the WFTU. The headquarters in exile of the NUNW were set up in Luanda, Angola in 1979.[1]:22 From 1986, various industrial unions were established inside Namibia under the umbrella of the NUNW and in 1989, a consolidation congress took place that merged the exiled and internal wings of the NUNW into a unified federation.[1]:8 In October 2009 the NUNW affiliated to the ITUC, (thus effectively withdrawing from the WFTU).[2] In January 2014, NUNW affirmed its allegiance to SWAPO, citing both a shared experience during colonialism and SWAPO's political positions.[3]
 | |
| Full name | National Union of Namibian Workers |
|---|---|
| Founded | April 24, 1971 |
| Members | 84,900 (estimated) |
| Affiliation | ITUC, OATUU |
| Key people | Risto Kapenda, president |
| Office location | Windhoek, Namibia |
| Country | Namibia |
| Website | www.nunw.org.na |
Notable members
- Bernhardt Esau, Secretary General of NUNW in 1991
- Evilastus Kaaronda, former General Secretary
- Hafeni Ludwigh Ndemula
- Pohamba Shifeta
- Ismael Kasuto, Current President since 1 May 2015
Affiliates
The NUNW has nine affiliated member unions with the following estimated membership in 2017.[1]
| Union | Membership |
|---|---|
| Metal and Allied Namibia Workers Union (MANWU) | 8,000 |
| Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) | 8,000 |
| Namibia Financial Institutions Union (NAFINU) | 4,500 |
| Namibia Food and Allied Workers Union (NAFAU) | 12,000 |
| Namibia National Teachers Union (NANTU) | 16,000 |
| Namibia Public Workers Union (NAPWU) | 25,000 |
| Namibia Transport and Allied Workers Union (NATAU) | 4,000 |
| Namibia Music Industry Union (NAMIU) | 400 |
| Namibia Farm Workers Union (NAFWU) | 7,000 |
| Total | 84,900 |
References
- Jauch, Herbert. "Namibia's trade union movement: an overview" (PDF). FES. p. 23. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
- "Le Conseil général de la CSI accepte quatre nouvelles organisations affiliées et se penche sur la crise mondiale". Confédération Syndicale Internationale. ITUC-CSI. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
- "NUNW reaffirms allegiance to Swapo". Namibian Sun. January 21, 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2014.