TAWU boycotts Venson-Moitoi

Oarabile Mosikare | Wednesday February 12, 2014 20:13

 

In a letter to the ministry, the union said the boycott is indefinite and extends to the Minister, Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi. TAWU took the action after the ministry postponed scheduled meetings with the Permanent Secretary Grace Muzila and Venson-Moitoi.

Last Monday, TAWU official, Allan Keitseng wrote to Muzila informing her of their stance. “As you may recall, from October 2013, we have struggled to obtain a response from the ministry on issues critical and burning to our members. When responses came, late as it were in December 2013, your correspondences would mix up issues,” Keitseng said. He added that after meetings with the Permanent Secretary to iron out issues on January 27 and 29, 2014 they received letters confirming the two meetings with Venson-Moitoi and Muzila.

“As you are aware the meetings were cancelled at the last minute, with no reasons advanced. This latest cancellation has greatly embarrassed us and caused financial and logistical problems as well as straining relations with our supervisors. We just do not have answers for our members regarding this,” Keitseng wrote.

“To avoid any further embarrassment, disappointment or injury to our image, integrity and finances, we have decided to abstain from any meetings with yourselves, indefinitely. This letter therefore, serves to formally notify the MoESD that TAWU executive will no longer hold consultative meetings with the ministry, including the... minister until further notice.”

Keitseng explained that the move is necessitated by the way the whole consultation has been handled, especially the abrupt, disruptive and disrespectful manner with which the last meetings were cancelled, without any reasons advanced. “Your conduct, at such a high level, goes to show the contempt with which the ministry holds us and those we represent. We simply matter very little in the hierarchy of the ministry’s partners.

We have now come to accept this sad reality.”

However, he said TAWU will continue to pursue its objectives of advancing and representing the interests of members by other means, other than dialogue, until its is convinced otherwise. Keitseng said the ministry’s working relationship with them, as a recognised union, is at its lowest ebb. “We assure the ministry that it is going to take much more than an apology on your part to rebuild trust and confidence,” he warned.