African People's Organisation support for the struggle in Namibia.
ERICA FLEGG interviewed him JOHN ya Otto is presently living in exile in Angola, having been hounded out of Namibia by the South African authorities in their attempts to repress the expanding. militant trade VINON movement there.
When he came to Paris for the in solidarity with the struggle Cul Cicuce people of Namibia in September, ya Otto made use opportunity .to trade unions in several European countries to rally supabout capcricuces trades unionists in Sweden, Finland, and Holland.
has had standing relationship LOTCO in Sweden, which has given financial as well as moral support.
"The trade unions in Scandinavia alc a source wnicn most liberation movements in dvdà àve denen. ted from, ya Otto observed. 'When I go there, it is not so much to campaign, Icicw clas.
He told me that LOTCO JOHN YA OTTO, labour secretary of the South West and chief person abroad for the National Union of Namibian Workers, was recently in Britain to seek trade union black visit WHEN The level of spokes- Namibia in the British labour movement. planned to propose this to the NUM. There of miners in Namibia, living and working lilalcla and tions. Donor experience was the the Confederation of Free Trade Unions, to which the attilated and to which it is also a major financial donor.
Ya Otto gave another his wry smiles. used to give us some financial support, SLODDCO. solidarity is that? We are the only OrLan lor fights to terests of Namibian workess, and it is our members who are being tortured and imprisonawareness He said that he are thousands appalling safety condiI asked ya Otto what his support of "The ICFTU now that has kind of which represent the inya Otto about the eng the TUC Office, and proThis full great John which suuggic... of the 'because tomorrow Turnhalle South Africa's inin SWAPO's labour Britain Namibia, know their ticularly important.' courses tor workers.
mentioned, We have Su uCLUrs, trade union facilities.
are being materials and duplicating are 50,000 blackboards.
both qualified in and labour issues.
of the union have signed a Hall vare saranen In the CUrTeN „ Issue of the NUJ the lourRa! anasi a itsed that president his high office union executive endorsed by 100 I weekend the 15 votes to 8 Beckett's inter.
pretation of union policie:
He argues that the NUJ ha norkers taking strike antion media over ethical issues.
This inspite of an 'Given the UK's large economic interests in support from British unions is parbulding Namibian inbut lack need school books, pens, machines, we nave trade union libraries, but we need literature on trade unionism aoreenent berween the NiI and the print union NGA or clause of that the the ulul lavsulsc members to witnnola labou.
Science employers are providing a platform fos racist propaganda. h umde on mne canser in the NUJ's code of conduct lay down the respon. . sibilities of journalists in they ed and stated the 1971/2 secretary, John ya Otto: being materials for wallt Los ols.. vedakener prefabricated so that we can uslanli uen derke mer home to Namibia one day.
I asked ya Otto what he for us thought about the possibility of twinning British and Nami- the bian trade union branches in over which in dustral action could well bi ucacssary l unc coces lo D uonele ATLeT medi:
or he asour hariy on : trashing Party istete SUDDO for action edițorial content will ference next March.
*Press freodom W9.
the same sectors of industry Yes - direct links — we real ly want this kind of thing, ' h replled WILl enthusiasm.
We'c also like trade union sectors.
'We have workers who've studied in different countries with different systems all their 2100 together to draw Bupa culriculum for the schools.
Front relationship petwee! the represents alliance of different forces Zimbahwe . example, , and trade unions are labour legisla"The autonomous organisation is indepenya Otto He that ment and system youth in Namibia the Yoke 'SWAPO and the NUNW are very close now, ya Otto observed, 'since they both represent the people of Namibia - workers OvDesel the most Dur-ing the struggle to rid the UDICSSCU country of the colonial yoke will maintain very.close TerTONS but at the time of Independence, NUNW will retain independence. The NUNW will then want to see workers participating in the government of their affairs.
The most immediate task iș to build solidarity with Namibian workers and NUNW, here the labour movement in Britain.
OT TnG themes of a one-day open confe the NUJ London on Sat 1 Nov.
issues discussed are: print ty, job security, the clos shop, technology ahnaonner w te re . Details from MccGwrire, Castellain Rd London
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Namibian workers to be invited to study
leadership courses in different industrial