Hotel workers decry hostile bosses

Bonte Seepi | Wednesday December 17, 2014 20:23

 

Speaking at the sixth congress over the weekend, Keseemetse Monga said it is remarkable that the organisation is still faced with the challenge of low membership when the country has a high number of hotels.

“We are trying to recruit members but we are hitting a snag due to the fact that some employers do not want their workers to join the union because they view us as an enemy,” he said, adding “unions should be regarded as partners in identifying and solving worker-related issues”.

Monga said the union is also facing problems in unionising workers in remote regions such as in the Okavango Delta.

“It is not easy for us to reach those places because we have to seek permission from the employers and they often resist. “These employers own huge tracts of land and many workers who fall within the bargaining unit.

“We fail to reach these places. In some cases, we have to travel by air, which is expensive on the part of union. Also, almost all the flights are owned by hotel owners.”

Monga accused the country’s policy and lawmakers of siding with employers in the hotel industry to draft legislation that he said enriched owners and impoverished workers. He alleged that many of the country’s leaders had interests in the hotel and tourism sector and were unwilling to accommodate workers.

“Another matter of worry is that, through the Employment Act, employers are not forced to pay overtime. “It is either you are given days off or paid cash, but most of the time employers prefer to offer days instead of payment in cash.

“This includes paid public holidays. We are of the opinion that this section should be reviewed,” said Monga. Speaking at the congress, Botswana Federation of Public Sector Unions (BOFEPUSU) deputy secretary general, Ketlhalefile Motshegwa, urged the BHTTWU to put its house in order on matters such as those of the constitution in order to be taken seriously.

He said they must know that they have a responsibility in the society and should create sub-structures, such as an investment wing. “For people to join a trade union, they are attracted by its seriousness.

Therefore when choosing your leaders, be careful to choose people who have sacrificial leadership. 

“You must also have benefit schemes and be able to change the employees’ working conditions. You must also have policies and programmes in your union,” said the BOFEPUSU firebrand.

He encouraged the union to take government and employers head on, as “they are the very ones who do not care about workers’ welfare”.