Interdict inconveniences officers � BOFEPUSU
Oarabile Mosikare | Tuesday March 22, 2016 15:09
Tshukudu said the changes to terms and conditions and to remuneration are, as a practice between the parties, to be implemented from April 1. BOFEPUSU and the four public sector unions last Thursday night launched an urgent appeal against the Industrial Court Judge President Justice Tebogo Maruping’s judgment in which he ruled in favour of the Botswana Public Employees Union (BOPEU). This is in a case in which BOPEU challenged the legitimacy of the BOFEPUSU to be part of the bargaining council.
Last month, BOPEU made an urgent application seeking the nullification of the admission of BOFEPUSU into the Public Service Bargaining Council (PSBC). The constituents of BOFEPUSU are the Botswana Land Board and Local Authorities and Health Workers Union (BLLAHWU), the Botswana Sectors of Educators Trade Union (BOSETU), the Botswana Teachers Union (BTU) and the National Amalgamated Local and Central Government and Parastatal Workers Union (NALCGPWU).
Tshukudu said an expedited hearing of the appeal would help ameliorate the danger of a prolonged interdict against salary negotiations.
“Just the Industrial Court, tens of thousands members of first to fourth applicants and, indeed, other affected public officers, are anxious that the prolonged period in having this matter resolved by the courts would continue to prejudice their welfare, they having gone for many years without a decent wage increase,” said Tshukudu.
He added: “For the reasons stated above, there can be little doubt that the balance of convenience favours an expedited appeal, whether one looks at it from the point of view of the applicants or the respondents. I am advised by the applicants’ attorneys of record, and verily believe same to be true, that the applicants’ enjoy reasonable prospects of success on appeal, regarding being heard to the proposed grounds of appeal. The applicants’ attorneys of record shall raise legal arguments on this point at the hearing hereof.”