Security workers unionise
Innocent Selatlhwa | Tuesday May 10, 2016 11:14
The union was established by the Botswana Federation of Trade Unions (BFTU) and was recently handed to a committee headed by Phillip Monkutlwatsi.
According to Monkutlwatsi, for a long time security officers have suffered unfavourable working conditions and hope their fortunes will turn around. “We have many challenges such as an unfair payment system. We will fight to have a sector specific salary structure and bonuses. We cannot be paid same rate as people who work less hours,” he said.
Monkutlwatsi also said they will appeal to their employers to provide risk allowances as they are usually under equipped even though they sometimes encounter dangerous and armed criminals especially at night. He also stated that they will advocate for a night allowance. “It is of course a choice getting a job as a security guard, but we all know nights are meant for sleeping, security guards should be compensated for being awake at night,” he said.
The union leader lamented that their salaries are too low while the cost of living is too high. He said they want to advocate for better pay as well as pension. “We cant even get loans from banks to better our lives or bursaries to further our studies because of the low salaries. We hope that the union will help in improving our welfare and giving our members access to these necessities,” he said.
Monkutlwatsi also lamented the high number of security workers that are unfairly dismissed.
He stated that most cases at labour offices and the industrial court involve security workers, stating that with the establishment of the union that would change. The union is said to have over 600 members out of around 80,000 security workers in the country. According to Monkutlwatsi, they face the challenge that most security companies are reluctant to allow the union access to the employees while security workers are also not educated enough about unionism.