BotswanaPost, Manual Workers in toxic relationship
Archie Mokoka | Wednesday September 28, 2022 15:42
Disgruntled BotswanaPost employees have complained about their employer's alleged unfair practices, safety, and victimisation while the National Amalgamated Local and Central Government and Parastatal Workers Union decries the toxic relationship with the postal service.
The aggrieved employees have allegedly received warning and disciplinary letters while others have been dismissed for speaking out against the parastatal's unfair human resource practices.
“When you become active in unions or voice your concerns you either get demoted or transferred without any satisfactory explanation,” bemoaned one of the organisation’s drivers who requested to remain anonymous for fear of victimisation.
Other disgruntled drivers' complaints include an unqualified transport officer and the use of unfit vehicles some of which are privately owned and at times by management. Some managers reportedly do deliveries while the drivers are available and idle. Executive Management is reportedly not free to voice their concerns.
“One Senior Transport Officer’s truck is used between Gaborone and Francistown yet there has not been any public tender,” said another driver who added that a private Mazda Demio vehicle was once used to transport old age pension funds despite not being modified for such a risky undertaking.
Managers and employees are also alleged to be using their private vehicles for the postal service’s business for free to protect their jobs. Furthermore, the employees questioned the criteria used for promotions and demotions.
“It seems when you question management or they discover you are an active union member they will transfer you without explanation or not promote you even though you are eligible for promotion,” another employee added.
There are also alleged safety concerns due to fatigue in line haulage. One driver alleged that recently they have been forced to work all week without taking a break following management’s cancellation of relief drivers.
“If the driver clocks in at 6pm on Monday they will knock off the following morning at 8am only to be back to work the evening of the same day at 6pm until the end of the week,” he stated.
The Manual Workers' Union has confirmed receiving complaints from the Botswana Post’s employees which they allegedly tried to address with the organisation without any luck. The union alleges a toxic relationship with BotswanaPost, especially the CEO. Executive Secretary of the union, Robert Rabasimane said the chief executive officer has given them signs that he does not like to work with unions.
“Issues always end up being resolved in court because the CEO has no interest in cooperating with the union to address employees’ grievances. We have a case whereby four employees were dismissed for voicing their concerns and were later reinstated by an order of the court. There is also an ongoing case before a court involving some branch managers,” he said.
Rabasimane further alleged that since the CEO was appointed to the position, the organisation has spent a lot of money on litigation. In fact, according to Rabasimane, recognition of the union was achieved through litigation even though the Trade Unions and Employers' Organisations Act outlines organisational rights in Section 48B.
Even after the court ruling, the two organisations are locked in a stalemate because the parastatal still refuses to recognise union rights which are stipulated in the statute. BotswanaPost says they are waiting for the CBA to be signed. Contacted for comment, BotswanaPost acknowledged it has an ongoing matter before the courts of law in which some of the alleged issues are the subject matter for determination.
Communications Manager, Tshepo Maphanyane told The Monitor that for fear of being in contempt of court and going against legal principles they would not engage with any third party until such matters are resolved. Furthermore, she said BotswanaPost has in place internal processes to be followed for employees and/or interested parties to lodge a grievance.
“The Grievance Policy and Procedure, just like all the other policies in place, is available and accessible to all employees. With that said, BotswanaPost has not received nor been made aware of any aggrieved employee on any matter and therefore cannot address the internal employees’ issues without following the approved process as prescribed by the company’s constitutive documents,” Maphanyane stated.