Unions take DPSM to court

Staff Writer | Tuesday July 15, 2025 20:39

The ongoing salary negotiations between trade unions and the Directorate of Public Service Management (DPSM) have escalated to the Industrial Court, with the five-plus-one unions filing an urgent application in which they accuse the government of unfair labour practices.

The five-plus-one unions, comprising BOPEU, BOSETU, BTU, NALCGPWU, BONU, and BDU, have been in talks with the government since the early part of the year, deliberating on negotiations. However, the two parties have not found a common ground on the matter to date.

In a statement, Deputy Chief Negotiator, Tobokani Rari on behalf of the five-plus union, stated that there have been irregularities with the minutes of their negotiations. “As parties resumed negotiations, a dispute ensued about the accuracy and authenticity of the minutes of the negotiation meeting that was held on June 26,” Rari stated.

He further added, “The trade unions held that there were some fundamental material misrepresentations of facts and serious omissions in the minutes that needed to be corrected,” he said. Rari also stated that from the concern raised by the unions over irregularities with the minutes, he said all parties involved agreed that something was amiss.

Though they were in agreement that something was dubious with the minutes that were recorded, Rari said a way forward could not be agreed upon by the parties. In order to resolve this and put the interests of public servants at heart, Rari said the unions found approaching the courts as the most probable way to solve issues before them.

“In view of the demeanor shown by the employer party during the negotiations, especially on the July 7 and 8 meetings, and further developments regarding the agreement that they (DPSM) entered into with BLLAWHU, the five plus one decided to institute legal proceedings against DPSM,” he said. From the urgent application that has been filed before the Industrial Court, the unions seek that the record of the meeting of June 26 be deemed grossly inaccurate and corrected by inserting amendments as proposed by the unions.

Additionally, the unions request that the court hold DPSM in bad faith by using information obtained from continuing negotiations with five plus one unions to agree with BLLAWHU. Lastly, the unions apply that DPSM should cease to execute or implement the agreement reached with BLLAWHU pending the conclusion of the agreement with the five plus one unions.