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Namport workers oppose improved efficiency in container terminal

The Chief Executive Officer of Namport has called for the end of the unsanctioned industrial action by the Container Terminal Operations department of Namport in Walvis Bay. Thursday morning Namport management was running around trying to put out fires after the employees in the Container Terminal unilaterally went on an illegal strike.
“Namport has engaged all Human Resources staff, shop stewards, the Regional Co-ordinator of NATAU and the Labour Commissioners office who are all in agreement that the industrial action is unsanctioned and illegal and requested the applicable staff to return to regular operations” said Namport CEO Bisey /Uirab.
The Economist learnt from workers in the yard that the work stoppage was done in protest to a new method of container yard handling designed to further improve efficiency at the Port of Walvis Bay, and some concerns about supervision.

The outcome was a complete standstill of all activities in the container terminal. Namport said later during the day the container terminal has ceased operations since the container terminal staff are denied to return to regular operations and also to acknowledge that they are taking part in illegal actions. /Uirab went to great pain to point out that other operations at the port like, break bulk operations, security and marine services were unaffected by the industrial action and that the operations would  continue normally. Namport is currently busy with the implementation of the project called: The New Port of Walvis Bay Container Terminal on Reclaimed Land. The project is already at an advanced stage and the main EPC contract in this project has already been awarded to China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC) on 8 November 2013  “We regret the impact that this has had on our customers’ services and operations and request understanding while we deal with the unexpected and unfortunate action” said /Uirab.

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