Erongo RED is currently hosting a two-day Company/Union Retreat aimed at strengthening relationships, fostering collaboration, and encouraging open dialogue between management and the union.

The Chief Executive Officer, Mr Immanuel !Hanabeb, officially opened the retreat with a strong message centred on unity, introspection, and shared responsibility. In his address, he emphasised the importance of taking a step back to reassess, reflect, reconnect, and rebuild relationships across all levels of the organisation to ensure better alignment with its strategic goals.

He described the retreat as a vital platform to reinforce mutual understanding and promote solution-driven engagement. “This is our opportunity to realign, to ensure that we are not just working side by side, but truly walking forward together,” he said.

Mr !Hanabeb also highlighted the pivotal role of the Shop steward as an advocate for employees, tasked with advancing their interests while contributing to a stable and productive work environment. He encouraged the Branch Executive Committee (BEC) to continue building its capacity not only in labour matters, but also in governance, ethics, and business development, to enhance its impact within the broader organisational context.

From the union’s perspective, the retreat serves as a platform to reaffirm expectations from management, including transparent communication, the timely resolution of outstanding matters, and a sincere commitment to addressing employee concerns. The Chairperson of the BEC, Mr George van Wyk, respectfully appealed to management to prioritise long-standing unresolved issues that affect staff morale and productivity.

As the retreat progresses, both parties expressed hope that it will yield to practical outcomes, reinforce trust, and pave the way for a more unified and forward-looking partnership.