BCL confirms lifting suspensions of official dealings with BMWU
Onalenna Kelebeile | Thursday May 28, 2015 16:10
The mine’s suspension of official dealings with the union would have meant that any business between the two bodies would have stopped wage negotiation talks.
BCL’s marketing and public relations manager James Molosankwe confirmed the suspensions of official dealings with the union.
He said its mainly because the mine received conflicting correspondences from both the BMWU president Jack Tlhagale and general secretary Bob Malele with regard to the suspension of some members of the branch committee.
“We asked the union, especially the leadership, to put its house in order. We met with them last Monday to address the matter and the situation has been resolved. We have even written a letter to confirm that we can now go back to business,” he added.
BMWU vice president Joseph Tsimako said BCL was right to have suspended official dealings in the midst of the confusion that took place because if they were not careful, management would be involved in union issues. “BCL simply said they were confused because of conflicting correspondences from different union members hence the mine did not know who to deal with.
“We are happy that everything is back to normal after a meeting on Monday to straighten the issue,” he added. The contentious issue that created a rift between the union president and the rest of the national executive committee (NEC) members was the suspension of some members of the Selebi-Phikwe branch committee over alleged mismanagement of funds last year.
While the 60 day-suspensions elapsed on April 21 this year, other NEC members imposed an additional 30 day-suspension to which Tlhagale objected and wrote letters to suspended branch members reinstating them.
Tlhagale stated in his letter dated May 3 that the decision to extend the suspension by additional 30 days was without basis.
He argued that the affected officials were not called to receive explanation why the extension was necessary and that the extension was done without the mandate of the NEC.
He further stated that the reinstatement does not bar the NEC from taking any action they may find necessary on valid reasons when they are ready. Quizzed about the latest developments in the union, BMWU president, Tlhagale declined to comment. He could only say, “I can’t discuss the matter with the media because whatever happened was an internal matter.” Malele was also not at liberty to comment when approached.
Apparently, the same affected branch committee members received letters from Malele dated May 15 reversing the reinstatement that was done by Tlhagale. In the letter Malele said the president was not empowered to unilaterally overrule the decisions of the NEC, hence the reinstatements were null and void. He further noted that the suspension was therefore extended by another 30 days from April 22, on the premise that the investigation report pointed out allegations of mismanagement of funds.
He noted that to avoid the possibility of tampering with the evidence relating to the affected branch officials, they were barred from entering the union office during the suspension period.
During their suspension, the branch officials were not to address meetings on behalf of the union and that they should not represent or act on behalf of the union or its members in their capacity as union officials. They were also instructed to hand over the union property currently in their possession, which include but not limited to office keys and all documents relating to the office. The deputy sheriffs arrived at the General Council that was held in Palapye last week Friday to deliver suspension letters to the said branch officials, but they refused to sign.
Apart from the Selebi-Phikwe branch officials in question, it is understood that the Orapa branch chairman as well as the Selebi-Phikwe vice branch secretary were also on suspension.
However, the council immediately lifted all the suspensions for the sake of peace and unity ahead of the national congress later this year.
It was also agreed that no suspensions should take place until after the congress. Selebi-Phikwe branch committee chairman Norman Kelaotswe referred all enquiries to the NEC.
BMWU’s publicity chairman Moses Joubert confirmed the council’s resolution to lift all suspensions. “We agreed that in the interest of the coming congress, conflicts must be set aside,” he said.