BOPEU applies to the bargaining council
Monkagedi Gaothobogwe | Monday January 11, 2016 13:07
The council is considering the application today, a process insiders say it is just a formality as it is generally expected to pass, after BOPEU approached three other public service trade unions to back it and boost its membership.
While last night information was scanty, insiders have, however, confirmed that the application was submitted on Friday.
BOPEU, according to The Monitor sources is acting jointly with the Botswana Nurses Union (BONU), which boasts of slightly over 6,000 members, Tertiary Associations Workers Union (TAWU) and the Botswana Government Workers Union (BOGOWU), which combined have a membership of over 1,200. As of Friday last week, BOPEU membership stood at 34,000, including 28,000 from the public service.
A Game of Numbers
With BONU, TAWU and BOGOWU now joining forces for the bargaining Council, BOPEU will be representing 36,000 members in the public service. But sources last night said the three parties were hoping to reach 38 000 members by Friday this week. On the other hand, the Botswana Federation of Public Sector Unions (BOFEPUSU), which BOPEU withdrew from in December, represents 75,000 of the 92,000 unionised public service employees.
Dual Membership
Both BOPEU and BOFEPUSU affiliates no doubt are sharing members. While the total number of unionised public service employees stand at 92,000, the total membership of BOFEPUSU and BOPEU yield 111,000.
The verification process by the PSBC disqualifies those members with dual membership. It is estimated that dual membership could affect the final figures for both BOPEU and BOFEPUSU by 10-15 per cent margin.
According to insiders more and more public service employees engage in dual or multiple membership for purposes of accessing the benefits, more especially the easy loans being offered by the trade unions.
Eight Seats For Trade
Unions At Bargaining Council
The BOPEU and BOFEPUSU union parties will share the eight seats available to the unions. BOFEPUSU expected to get the lion’s share of the seats, while the BOPEU and partners could be allotted a maximum of three seats. For the first time BONU could also have a seat in the bargaining council thanks to their acting jointly agreement with BOPEU.
Expected Fireworks
Already analysts are predicting a highly charged atmosphere around the bargaining table with sworn enemies in the public service trade unions seemingly set to use the bargaining process to score political points.