The National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW) is one of three national trade union centers in Namibia. It was established in 1970 and is affiliated with SWAPO, Namibia's ruling political party.

History The NUNW 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. From that time, NUNW became the trade union wing of SWAPO.

In 1978, the NUNW affiliated to the World Federation of Trade Unions (WTFU). The headquarters in exile of the NUNW were set up in Luanda, Angola in 1979. 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. The NUNW was thus, as a trade union center, formally established in 1989. In 1991, the NUNW had seven affiliated unions with a total membership of over 60,000.

In October 2009 the NUNW affiliated to the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), thus effectively withdrawing from the WFTU. In January 2014, NUNW affirmed its allegiance to SWAPO, citing both a shared experience during colonialism and SWAPO's political positions.

Affiliates The NUNW has nine affiliated member unions with the following estimated membership in 2017. Union Membership Established Metal and Allied Namibia Workers Union (MANWU) 8,000 1987 Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) 8,000 1986 Namibia Financial Institutions Union (NAFINU) 4,500 Namibia Food and Allied Workers Union (NAFAU) 12,000 1986 Namibia National Teachers Union (NANTU) 16,000 1989 Namibia Public Workers Union (NAPWU) 25,000 1987 Namibia Transport and Allied Workers Union (NATAU) 4,000 1988 Namibia Music Industry Union (NAMIU) 400 Namibia Farm Workers Union (NAFWU) 7,000 Total 84,900

Notable members Tjekero Tweya, MP, NUNW president 1991–1993 Bernhardt Esau, Secretary General of NUNW in 1991 Evilastus Kaaronda, former General Secretary Hafeni Ludwigh Ndemula Pohamba Shifeta Ismael Kasuto, president from 1 May 2015 Risto Kapenda, current president

See also

Namibia National Labour Organisation (NANLO) Trade Union Congress of Namibia (TUCNA)

References