Victorious BURS workers resume go-slow
Mpho Mokwape | Wednesday September 2, 2015 15:22
Last week, the Botswana Public Employees Union (BOPEU) won an interim interdict setting aside a contentious ‘commitment letter’ the BURS had gotten striking employees to sign. The letter forbade workers from being on a go-slow or interfering otherwise with the tax agency’s smooth running.
BOPEU argued that BURS had coerced workers into signing the letter – and thus effectively abandoning their strike – by threatening them with a lock-out from their offices.
Yesterday, BOPEU general secretary, Topias Marenga said following the interim ruling, workers had gone back to their go-slow.
“Workers will continue to engage in a go-slow until a resolution is reached between the parties,” he told Mmegi.
“At the moment we have not met with BURS management and they too have not made any attempts to meet with us.
“So we are still on a go-slow since the court ruled in our favour. The workers are now freely exercising their rights without any intimidation and they will continue to do so until an amicable solution is found.”
Marenga said there had been no movement from the positions adopted by both sides before last week’s Industrial Court ruling. The Union is still demanding 11 percent and the BURS is sticking to its original offer of six percent.
“We have our 11 percent and they have their six percent. We are not saying we cannot agree but we wanted an arbitrator who could advise on the suitable percentage increase we could both agree on,” he said.
BURS acting commissioner general, Kingsley Kgosidintsi said there was little to share with the media as the dispute was awaiting the broader case between the two parties set for September 10 at the Industrial Court.
“Management is not aware of any officers on a go-slow,” he said.
Hundreds of BURS workers downed tools on July 24 after the Industrial Court granted BOPEU permission to strike.
The Union alleges that while it has significantly lowered its demands, the BURS has remained intransigent without providing tangible reasons for its standpoint.