WINDHOEK: Over 300 employees of the Polytechnic of Namibia (PoN) on Monday commenced a peaceful strike, forced by salary disputes.

The workers have downed tools under the banner of the Namibia Public Workers’ Union (NAPWU), and have vowed to strike until their demands are met.

In an interview with the media on Monday, chairman of the shop stewards at PoN, Nathwell Lizazi said they are demanding a 10 per cent salary increase and 30 per cent housing allowance.

Lizazi said the last increase at PoN was in 2010, when workers got a seven per cent increase on their salaries.

He explained that negotiations between the union and PoN started in November last year, and the two parties can still not come to an agreement.

According to Lizazi, the end-of-year examinations scheduled to start on 29 October this year and the graduation ceremony scheduled for 12 October this year will be negatively affected if the workers are still on strike then.

He also expressed concern that PoN have replaced the striking workers with contract workers, which according to Lizazi is illegal by law.

The workers that are on strike are administrative and support staff.