Ambition not political affiliation influences BOPEU stance
Oarabile Mosikare | Friday October 17, 2014 15:35
The sources are adamant that the current animosity between BOPEU and four other affiliates of BOFEPUSU has nothing to do with party affiliation during the 2014 general elections. The other BOFEPUSU members are Botswana Land Board and Local Authorities and Health Workers Union (BLLAHWU), Botswana Sectors of Educators Trade Union (BOSETU), Botswana Teachers Union (BTU) and National Amalgamated Local and Central Government and Parastatal Workers Union (NALCGPWU).
BOPEU has however distanced itself from public statements issued by other BOFEPUSU leaders who have revealed their support for the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) in next week’s general elections. BOPEU has insisted that there is no congress resolution to this effect. Sources close to BOPEU have revealed that there are several factors that have influenced the union’s stance.
“It appears that they have certain realisation of a bigger picture of international issues about labour issues and labour market. There has been evident change in their perspective,” noted a source.
The union’s president Andrew Motsamai attended the International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva for the first time this year. It was perhaps at this conference that Motsamai realised that they could fully participate in leadership and governance as members of Botswana Federation Trade Unions (BFTU) not under the auspices of the Public Sector International (PSI). This is because the ILC regards PSI as a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO).
Another source was adamant that Motsamai wanted the union to grow to an international level where it would be exposed to global issues. “BOPEU wants to be taken seriously by its members as a professional union. The moment you are exposed to the global labour issues and labour market you realise how backward we are here in Botswana. When you get exposure to the international labour conference, you grow beyond the rhetoric of picketing about Botswana outside the conference,” he said.
Another source credited BOPEU as the only union in the country that had sent members to the Global Labour University housed at the Wits University in South Africa. Some others were sponsored to pursue a Diploma in Law at the Gaborone College of Law. This international knowledge is anticipated to boost their profile and competence in order for them to influence government policy. “The union is taking a different direction from other BOFEPUSU affiliates. They want to step out of rhetoric unionism. This shows maturity and growth, hence their clash with dominant forces within BOFEPUSU,” added the source.
Both sources were of the view that rhetoric unionism and its membership with BOFEPUSU had cost BOPEU heavily. This is partly due to the fact that President Ian Khama reportedly perceives the federation as a political party fronting as a union.
“The government also has senior officers like permanent secretaries who think like Khama. They cannot appreciate unionisation of the public service,” he added. Another critical factor that has put the union at loggerheads with other affiliates is that it its self-centered. However, its business model has proven to be the best and its businesses are more successful. The union also has an ambitious plan to grow its members from 26,000 to 30,000. This would be achieved through permeating into local government, parastatals and also incorporating the more learned of the industrial class. The current impasse is a result of lack of progress at the Public Sector Bargaining Council (PSBC). The PSBC is one of the influential factors.
“Many BOPEU members have been attending negotiation skills’ training locally and in neighbouring countries. They take issues of research and capacity very seriously. Bargaining is the art of getting something from someone and winning the game. If you follow one method of bargaining you get what is currently happening at the Bargaining Council,” explained the source. He added that being well versed in the art of bargaining would help unlock some doors for the union during the bargaining process.
“If you follow the hard line you cannot unlock the doors. Remember that we have a soldier as the Head of State and you cannot afford to have a militant trade unionists,” he warned.