Labour movements insist on partisan politics
Onalenna Kelebeile | Wednesday September 10, 2014 15:30
Officials from the Botswana Federation of Public Sectors Union (BOFEPUSU) and Botswana Land Board, Local Authorities and Health Workers Union (BLLAHWU) insist that there is nothing barring them from participating in politics contrary to government’s position.
Last Sunday, BOFEPUSU Francistown regional chairman, Thatayamodimo Xhabue, who is also a civil servant, told a political rally in Selebi-Phikwe that the Public Service Act of 2008 did not repeal the Regulations of Industrial Employees when the former industrial class workers were converted to permanent and pensionable staff.
He explained that the regulations allow industrial class employees in government to retain their jobs and hold political office at the same time to augment their paltry salaries. He said since the employees did not receive financial incentives upon conversion to permanent and pensionable status and the Public Service Act is silent on the issue, then they are free to seek political office. BOFEPUSU has openly showed its support for the opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC).
BLLAHWU recently argued that the labour movement cannot ignore politics because of the complex issue of agitation and invariable competition for survival.
While giving a solidarity message at the last Botswana Sector of Educators Trade Union (BOSETU) elective congress in Palapye, BLLAHWU deputy secretary general, Keaoleboga Dipogiso said they are unapologetic on their involvement in politics. He said the class struggle entails that the weaker classes must forge together against stronger classes to stimulate their underprivileged status.
“The blatant truth is that politics affects labour organisations collectively as a block and in their individual capacities. Our interest is motivated by the urgency to provide checks and balances as we embark on the need to purge precarious work and anything that threatens our existence. Labour, as a collective block is inherently a troubled constituency,” he stated.
Dipogiso said the need to protect members from injustices of the political and economic system is an inescapable undertaking. He said the labour movement will from time to time find itself in very compromising situations against powerful classes and the level of commitment by the general membership, political focus by the leadership and sound positions will determine survival. “For this we are unapologetic,” he added.
He said that labour laws and economic policies are often skewed to protect business interests more than the wellbeing of the workers. He wondered if this can be countered through silent diplomacy. He argued that states that have assumed rightist economic activity have always protected business interests and wealth accumulation as opposed to the socialist ideals of protection of labour rights.
“And for this, agents are normally planted to argue that unions have no business in politics. The union has reached a stage where talking union business of advocacy for decent work is difficult to detach from talking politics. Because of the competitive nature of survival, the working class is subjected to political reorganisation. The unions must therefore embrace the situation and identify comparative advantages through identification of a workers agenda,” he said.
Speaking at the same event, acting CEO of the Human Resource Development Council, Dr Patrick Molotsi advised trade unions against involvement in partisan politics as this has the potential to weaken them.