BURS threatens strikers
Spira Tlhankane | Monday August 3, 2015 17:16
In a memorandum addressed to the employees recently, the commissioner general of BURS Keneilwe Morris indicated that the employees were not eligible to participate in the current industrial action. “Employees whose salaries have been adjusted by six percent effective from April 1, 2015 have no dispute with BURS, hence no basis to participate in the industrial action because they have accepted the salary adjustment for the 2015/16 financial year,” Morris said in the memorandum.
He added that disciplinary action would be taken against the said employees in accordance with the provision of Section 19 of the BURS general conditions of service.
Morris further informed the concerned employees that the current action emanated from a deadlock in salary between management of BURS and Botswana Public Employees Union (BOPEU) for the 2015/16 financial year.
In response to the threat, BOPEU general secretary Topias Marenga wrote a letter to Morris yesterday (July 30) reminding BURS that the dispute is between BOPEU and the management not the employees.
“BURS have no right to address our members directly on such subjects and we wish to warn the employer to desist from such acts of intimidation,” the letter reads.
Marenga also told BURS in the letter that BOPEU requests the employer to rectify the statement and re-direct the concern through the right channel, which is the union.
BOPEU also requested for a meeting with BURS today to identify ways and means of reaching a common understanding in view of ending the strike. An effort to reach BURS communication specialist Kefilwe Moono to confirm the meeting was unsuccessful as the phone rang unanswered.
Meanwhile, Botswana Mine Workers Union (BMWU) had condemned BURS for intimidating and victimising strikers and calling them back to work. BMWU general secretary Bob Malele wrote a letter to Marenga backing BOPEU’s decision to exercise its right to demand for a better living wage.
BMWU also backed BOPEU’s position indicating that workers must refuse to be treated as slaves.
“It is evident that employers in this country have ignored the workers’ right to live and earn decent wages.” Malele said in the letter.
BMWU however encouraged BOPEU and BURS to go back to the negotiation table and find ways to resolve the matter. BMWU further declared their concern towards allegations that trucks are crossing the border without being searched by the BURS.
“This can have a negative impact on the economy of this country whereby criminals can find ways of smuggling unlawful substances into the country,” he said. BMWU further suggested for the closure of all borders until the matter is resolved.