Defend labour laws or resign�BCP tells Batshu
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Friday April 4, 2014 15:10
Kekgonegile said this yesterday in response to the recent release of the unilateral four percent increment to non-unionised public sector workers.
He said as the custodian of labour relations Batshu should act fairly as he knows that the decision can affect productivity levels and the economy. Kekgonegile said the directive issued by the director of Public Service Management (DPSM) Carter Morupisi under instructions of Cabinet does not only undermine and disregard the bargaining process but also contravenes Public Service Act which spells out the terms and conditions under which the public service workers salaries and working conditions can be adjusted.
“The government’s 4% unilateral decision to increase salaries of non-unionised sectors of government inclusive of the ‘Botswana Democratic Party’ disciplined forces and management E2 scale and above is a deliberate but miscalculated divide and rule ploy intended to serve three major impacts,” he said.
He said this move is aimed at rendering the bargaining process useless given that government can increase salaries without negotiations. This, argued the shadow minister, would render trade unions irrelevant and drive masses of workers to quit unions.
He sees the government action as an attempt to appease the Botswana Defence Force (BDF), Botswana Police Service, Prisons Department, Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) and Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) at the expense of other public sector workers.
He accused the government of using destructive tactics, negotiating in bad faith and predetermining the outcome of the ongoing negotiations at the Bargaining Council. Kekgonegile accused the government of playing mind games with trade unions, workers and Batswana in general.
Meanwhile, the BCP shadow Minister of High Education Phillip Tabulawa warned Batswana to expect worse results for school examinations now that President Ian Khama has removed the minister and appointed an acting Minister of Education and Skills Development.
“This ministry needs a full minister not an acting one looking at the current situation of our Education system that is poor,” said Tabulawa, adding that the acting minister Mokgweetsi Masisi would also “have to reconcile with workers first if one remembers the events of Mother of All Strikes.”