Teachers' strike on

Judge Thomas Masuku last night dismissed government's urgent application to stop the teachers' intended strike today.

The Namibia National Teachers Union called for an indefinite nationwide strike after the govenment refused to give them an 8% salary increase. Numerous efforts to resolve the impasse failed, resulting in the union asking its members to vote whether to go on strike or not. Teachers voted overwhelmingly to go on strike. A conciliator last week worked with both parties on the ground rules for the strike, such as the picketing distance, and on whether the government can recruit volunteers.