After nearly 2 weeks on strike and protracted negotiations that severely disrupted Namibian national carrier Air Namibia's operations, the Namibian Pilots Association (NAPA) has acquiesced to Air Namibia management's initial offer of a 5% pay rise. |
| Air Namibia Crew |
The pilots were expected to resume work this morning with new flight schedules in the process of being planned, after the deal was reached yesterday (28 November 2012).
"In an urgent press release issued by the company’s spokesman, Paul Nakawa, Air Namibia said both parties have come to an agreement and that the strike has come to an end. Napa has accepted a 5% salary increase on the total package and this will become effective when services are resumed. According to Nakawa, the agreement was reached on the fundamental principle of the fact that 5% is the maximum affordable figure taking into account the financial position of the company, as well as escorts being made by the company to mitigate the effects of inflation that may erode the disposable income for the pilots."
During the strike, which is estimated to have cost Air Namibia USD8.45million (NAD75million) overall, the carrier made use of contracted pilots as well as other pilots not taking part in the industrial action. Air Namibia employs 13 foreign-contracted pilots, 17 foreign ad hoc-contracted pilots and 81 permanent Namibian pilots.
