Union leaders� dishonesty and selfishness exposed
Correspondent | Tuesday June 2, 2015 12:25
There is a saying that goes, “Dishonesty is short lived” no matter how long you can betray the liberalisation of the working class, the truth and in particular the whole truth will always come out. I am convinced that what the two Gentlemen and/or Union leaders of repute have so far disclosed publicly and in particular to their members with good standing, is just the tip of the ice berg, more is still to come and it seems that each of them is ready to disclose the other’s dirty tricks and deals that they had during their good times when they form BOFEPUSU. Quite honestly, the destiny of labour movement in Botswana is assured and I expect a new chapter in the liberalisation of the workers and the working class in this country
It will be so interesting if progressive leadership jointly (BOPEU and MANUAL WORKERS UNION) could shed more light on what transpired during the bargaining process in 2011 until the recent ones in 2015, because it seems the truth has always been concealed to members. One will also expect the two heavy weights to shield more light about their Unions’ massive wealth, their lavish lifestyle and the recruitment process at their union offices which is alleged to be done on tribal line and on friendship.
There is undeniable fact that ordinary union members are in serious debt, there live in poverty and live like destitutes when their leaders live lavish lifestyles and paid handsomely. I am of the opinion that, the Nation and Union members will be briefed and will hear more for the first time from the, horses’ mouth about deals that the two labour movement leaders had with political parties prior to and during the General Elections in 2014 and how much monies was used from each union’s coffers and from the umbrella Federation (BOFEPUSU).
Trade Unions and Labour Relations
Trade Unions and Labour Relations trade unions in Botswana have remained too weak due to various reasons such as; rivalry between unions, factions, lack of internal democracy and cohesion, as well as selfishness of those in the leadership done at the expense of the general masses (workers). In the past, labour movements complained of lack of resources including finances and human resources; though the situation has changed drastically, union finances are not used for the effective operation of the union but are rather used to serve the interests of individual union leaders and to de-campaign fellow comrades towards union elections.
This has limited trade unions’ ability to sufficiently represent members and ability at branch level to effectively mobilise workers at the workplace, Branch Executive Committee still operate under the tree, they don’t have offices, transport and/or any form of communication with ordinary members as they use their own cell phones and air-time which is too expensive to them, despite economic growth of their unions. There is also continued Amendment of Union Constitutions year by year, the primary goal of such amendment is to prolong term of office of certain individuals under the pretext of transformation and this is done to bring into effect some new clauses that can allow Permanent appointment of General Secretaries whose term of office has expired or is coming to an end and to ensure that they are not subjected to elections with other members.
The normal practice, else-where is that General Secretary (GS) in a union structure is a full time employee of the union whose term of office is subjected to elections as a member of the National Executive Committee and not other-wise.
Trade Unions’ Ultimate Goal
True unionists and representatives of the working class who are so committed to socialism at its best will always put the interests and aspirations of not only union members, but also the working class at the fore-front and understood comradeship in its broader context. Trade unions have a primary goal and core mandate, which is the prevention of exploitation of the workers by employers and negotiate higher, the expectation is that during Economic melt Down, unions have the goal of trying to maintain their members’ level of earnings or at least to prevent erosion of income due to inflation and thereby agree on a Concessionary Bargaining in return for job security or other incentives instead of pursuance of wage increases and/or call for a National Strike whose effect is job loses.
Strategic Approach during Negotiations
More often than not, trade unions’ argument is that the impact of inflation rates, which is based on a broad basket of goods and services may be under estimated by employers when it comes to the low and middle income group or poorer employees who are particularly vulnerable to increases in food prices.
My suggestion therefore is that, during salary negotiations, salary agreements or increases must have a provision or make a provision for inflation-rated increases for subsequent years, linking such with Annual Increases to the inflation rate and that become part of the collective agreement signed at the end of the negotiations and bargaining.
During negotiations, union leaders must also bear in mind that employees in the private sector may seek increase their economic gains at the expense of shareholders’ profit and the company performance based on the income statement (collected revenue), while in the public service a rise in wages generally translates into increased tax and other tariffs, this in turn affects public service employees because there are the consumers of the services that they provide.
In summary; I am of the opinion that the competencies of union officials in representing members at the bargaining and negotiation table will largely depend on the academic and professional skills and experience of those assigned duty of such magnitude and not by mere attendance of International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention workshops or by benchmarking in South Africa. Academic and professional competencies and skills as well as experience in Labour Economics, Labour Relations, Law, Public Administration and Management as well as in Human Resource Management policies and practices are very vital during negotiations and bargaining.
I urge right minded progressive leaders and fellow comrades in struggle to join hands and arise for their liberalisation, rather than to remain quite when they are being exploited by monsters that they have created. The future of the coming generation lay in our hands. Power to the people.
Comrade Oaitse Diane Patle*
These are personal views and comments of the author and are not of any Union, Federation and/or institution with which he may be a member.
*Patle is an Evolutionary Unionist based in Gaborone. E-mail: opatle@gov.bw