Labour versus party politics
Correspondent | Friday September 5, 2014 15:03
The statement is worrisome to me as a member of BOPEU, hence the need to put our union principle position in its broader perspective. In the said statement it was remarkably stated that” the UDC is a brainchild of BOFEPUSU and its affiliate member unions and the idea of uniting the opposition parties was conceptualized during the 2011 nationwide strike, but some members want to renege the idea, under the pretext that they first need to get mandate from the ‘membership”.
First and foremost, our comrades in BOFEPUSU leadership must understand that, the sector federation was formed by five affiliates member unions primarily to combine forces in order to enhance the unions power and status, the motive of forming BOFEPUSU was simply for the provision of a forum for collective bargaining purposes in the public service and not otherwise. It was never intended to create a platform or an umbrella body that will coordinate opposition unity and or political issues at national level; because already there is a national federation (BFTU) empowered and responsible for that at national level.
To the best of our understanding and knowledge as BOPEU membership, voting is an individual secret; as a result, it must remain and be treated as a secret, I can confirm with certainty that BOPEU leadership is not going to force and or instruct its membership to vote for any political party, instead members are, and will always be advised to vote with caution and wisely because we regard voting as an investment.
Our union is not party to BOFEPUSU idea and decision of voting for UDC, Ideally, unity of the opposition parties is overdue and BOPEU is not in any way against such unity. The conceptualized idea during the nationwide strike was not intended to give the opposition parties legitimate expectation that, public employees and in particular BOPEU members will vote for them (UDC). My expectation is that BOFEPUSU must play an exemplary role in uniting the working class before it can even dream of uniting the opposition parties because Charity Begins at Home. The leadership of BOFEPUSU, if indeed they have the interests of the working class at heart, then they must first unite TAWU, BONU and BOGOWU with the other five member unions affiliated to it.
In addition the leadership must ensure that BOFEPUSU sign a ‘smart partnership’ agreement and work cooperatively with the National Trade Union Federation (BFTU) and its affiliated member unions in the Private Sector.
Any Trade Union, and or its leadership, which opposes the idea of uniting the Public Sector Unions and or pull out from the ideology of cooperation of the Pubic Sector unions and the Private Sector Unions, including Amalgamating BOFEPUSU with BFTU, must be punished by the working class because such leaders are sell-outs.
I have to state and emphasize to our comrades in BOFEPUSU and various Public Sector Unions that, BOPEU is a union of choice in the public service, a general union whose membership cuts across the spectrum. It has a constitution, which governs the conduct of its Central Executive Committee and the membership, therefore union policy formulation and decisions making resides in the hands of the people, Power resides in the Hands our Membership and not in the hands of union employees.
In executing its administrative functions, the CEC confines itself to the Union constitution and their jurisdiction as per the constitution of BOPEU and not as per the constitution of BOFEPUSU, which is not in anyway binding on our members or on BOPEU.
A standing resolution and decision of BOPEU members relating to participation in party politics was made prior to, and during BCSA 55th Annual General Conference held at Mater-Spei College in Francistown in 1998. The union reaffirmed and adopted another resolution at its 2013 governing council in Majestic Five Hotel to the effect that; our members (public employees) and the union must refrain from participating in party politics, because public employees are expected to serve the public impartially without any influence of political affiliation (either with government of the day (BDP) and, or government in waiting UDC/BCP).
Further to the above, the union was directed by the aforesaid governing council in Palapye to distance itself from any political statement made by BOFEPUSU leadership. Our leadership and the entire membership have complied with such principled position and we have demonstrated our firm stand to the entire nation during the 2014 May Day celebrations. We boycotted some events because of the poorly crafted Theme of the day, which suggested that our union is party to the regime change project though the union is not.
BOPEU leadership strategic focus, as of now and that of the general membership is to confine it with its core function of labour issues (labour politics) and the union jurisdiction and not party politics. Our aim as a union of choice is to organize all employees, and to unite the working class in the country, irrespective of sector, skill or occupation, and not to divide workers, as is the case with some of our sister unions affiliated to BOFEPUSU.
Any of our members who are interested in party politics are at liberty to leave or resign from union to join politics because we perceive that is an individual decision, and not that of membership. The union’s firm position of ensuring that its’ membership refrains from active party politics while employed by the government of Botswana was made deliberately, and with good intend to avoid infringing of member’s constitutional right of freedom of association. We did not want to dictate to them on how to use their vote during general elections, since such decision would have been a suicidal and worst form of oppression. Our general membership is seasoned and made up of professional public employees in their own right, they know how to make wise decisions that will improve their working conditions, retain the union good reputation and members’ integrity in the public service.
Our members’ concerns are continually responded to, through proper mode of communication, consultation and cooperation with the government and on the basis of recognition agreement that the union has with the employer. in order to avoid unnecessary conflicts or disputes. Our members are not BOFEPUSU members, and they don’t get instructions from the federation leadership, in fact members are the ones who can give the federation instructions on labour issues (labour politics) and not otherwise.
The union’s major challenge, however, is to formulate its strategic goals towards the general elections and to make an attempt to satisfy at least majority of our members’ needs and aspirations by effectively implementing various strategies to achieve our goals, but I can confirm to the nation that; Regime Change or dictating to our members to vote for any particular party is not our strategic goal, our members will use their vote during elections wisely and with an understanding that voting is a constitutional right, and a five years investment that must come with dividends.
Although I am not disputing that Trade Union may assume the role of social movement and advocate for radical changes, such an important role could be achieved if it is left with, and, or when it is done by the competent BFTU to mobilize the working class and to coordinate politics and economic policy at national level.
A true example of a National Federation is that of COSATU, which has strived to combat the division among the workers of South Africa and unite them into a strong and confident working class, the federation has had a major impact on the development of labour legislation because of the size of its affiliated Unions, membership and capacity to mobilize employees across sectors of the economy, which is lacking in BOFEPUSU. I sincerely admire COSATU principle of international worker solidarity: “an injury to one is an injury to all” and of “one country one federation”.
I am optimistic that, this article will clear the mist and put in the spotlight the principle position of ourselves (BOPEU Members) and that of the Union. I must also state that the statement, views and comments reflect the firm position of the union and its membership are made in my personal capacity as member of BOPEU with good standing and thereby exercising my constitutional right of freedom of speech.
*Oaitse Diane Patle is Branch Chairperson BOPEU Gaborone