Statement Of The Unlawfully Dismissed Namibian MUN Union Leaders Of Rossing Uranium Mine

Statement Of The Unlawfully Dismissed Namibian MUN Union Leaders Of Rossing Uranium Mine High Court Hearing

7–8 October 2026
The hearing scheduled for 7 and 8 October 2026 in the High Court of Namibia is an important stage in the long-running labour dispute involving thep nine dismissed Rossing Mineworkers Union leaders.
The case goes beyond the nine individuals involved. It raises important questions about trade-union rights, fair labour procedures, access to justice and the protection of workers who serve as union representatives.
Brief background
The nine union leaders were dismissed were unfairly dismissed by Rossing in September 2020 and subsequently pursued their labour dispute through the arbitration process.
In 2025, the nine applied for the recusal of the arbitrator, raising concerns about perceived bias and the way he conducted of the proceedings. The arbitrator ultimately recused himself and the matter was directed to start de novo, meaning that the arbitration would begin afresh.
Rossing challenged that position in the High Court and the Court ruled that the existing arbitrator should remain and that the matter should continue from where it had stopped.
Later in 2025, the arbitrator left his position after taking up a councillor position in the Kunene Region. A new arbitrator was subsequently appointed and he ruled that the matter should again proceed de novo.
Rossing has challenged this decision, resulting in the matter now being before the High Court on 7 and 8 October 2026.
The nine union leaders are expected to attend the hearing, listen to the arguments presented by the parties and await the Court's ruling.
Why this matters to Namibian workers
This hearing is important because the issues involved are bigger than one workplace.
Workers throughout Namibia rely on fair labour procedures and on the ability of trade unions and their representatives to perform their functions.
The case therefore raises important questions:
• Can union representatives carry out their responsibilities without fear?
• Are workers entitled to a fair and impartial dispute-resolution process?
• How should prolonged labour disputes be handled?
• What happens when an arbitrator leaves office before a matter is completed?
• When should a labour matter begin again, and when should it continue from where it stopped?
• How can workers have confidence that labour disputes will be resolved fairly and without unnecessary delay?
Namibia's Labour Act provides mechanisms for arbitration and judicial review of arbitration proceedings, including where there are alleged irregularities or excesses of an arbitrator's powers.
A matter for all workers
The Rossing case should therefore not be viewed simply as a dispute involving nine former employees, it is a matter that should interest MUN members, shop stewards, union leaders, permanent workers, contract workers and all trade unionists and all the workers in Namibia.
The outcome and the lessons from the case can contribute to the wider discussion about how workers' rights and trade-union rights are protected when serious labour disputes arise.
For the nine union leaders, the hearing represents another important step in a struggle that has continued since 2020 but for the Namibian workers, it is an opportunity to reflect on the importance of fairness, impartiality, accountability, effective trade-union representation and timely access to justice.
The lessons of the Rossing struggle must strengthen workers' understanding of their rights and contribute to a stronger and more accountable labour movement in Namibia.
In solidarity,
The Nine Rossing Union Leaders and Fellow Comrades
ninedismissedrulbec [at] gmail.com

10/3 Panel Beifang, Chinese Imperialism, Labor & Nambia: An International Panel
Meeting Time Saturday 10/3/26
US 9am pst/11am cst/12 pm est/ Nambia-South Africa 6pm
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83005215942?pwd=Enka79JEyG9ToWXmYRHNhWZQU36uyp.1
This panel examine the role the the Chinese owned company Beifang Mining Technology Services and building solidarity with Namibian workers. Beifang has a long record in Namibian of being used by the owners of the Chinese (CNUC) controlled Rossing Uranium Mine, Husab Uranium and other mines and companies in Namibia replacing permanent workers and and forcing these workers into contract labor positions without senority, proper healthcare and health and safety protection including PPE . This panel will also look at a recent labor arbitration in favor of The Revolutionary Union against Beifang. The arbitrator ruled that the company had sought to illegally prevent workers from being represented by the Revolutionary Union which was competing against the Mineworkers Workers Union of Nambia. Beifang is appealing the ruling in order to prevent the workers from being represented by the RU. There will also be a labor hearing on October 6 & 7th in Windhoek, Namibia for the fired Rossing miners after 6 years for struggle. The company China National Uranium Corporation (CNUC) has fighting the illegal discharges of the miners and continues to violate their labor and worker rights.
The connection between the attack on labor, contracting out and the role of Beifang and Chinese bosses will be examined including how it is effecting the entire labor movement.
Representatives From
Rossing Mine Fired Union Leaders who were members of MUN
Revolutionary Union
Husab Mine fired unionized workers
Other workers from Namibia
Sponsored by WorkWeek
UFCLP
For more info: labormedia1 [at] gmail.com
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Meeting ID: 830 0521 5942
Passcode: 695300