Trade Unions Torn Over Salary Adjustments

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday August 12, 2019 14:44

 

Government has suggested giving its employees allowances, even though it did not provide specific percentages. 

While some unions seem not to have an issue with the said allowances, most of them are set on civil servants being elevated to the next scale.

Negotiations between the six cooperating unions and government are starting tomorrow in Mahalapye after trade unions had evoked clause 12 of the rules of engagement that allows any of the bargaining parties to the talks to consult its mandate givers on the way forward.

The six trade unions are Botswana Sectors of Educators Trade Union, Botswana Nurses Union, Botswana Teachers Union, Botswana Land boards, Local Authorities and Health Workers Union, National Amalgamated Local and Central Government and Parastatal Workers Union (NALCGPWU) and Botswana Public Employees Union.

“It is true we met yesterday (Sunday) over issues that we are going to table before the employer after getting new mandate from our members. I cannot disclose any information to the media because the rules of engagement do not allow me to do so,” said Samuel Molaodi, chairperson of the six trade unions.  The Monitor has learnt that the NALCGPWU had proposed to other trade unions that they should force the government to disclose the amount or percentage of allowance it wants to give to civil servants. 

“The other trade unions mandate is that if the government is failing to elevate employers with one scale up then union leaders must declare a dispute and process of a strike, which include cool off time, mediation amongst others that must be followed,” a source said.

“NALCGPWU had agreed that it would support other unions if the government were failing to cooperate. NALCGPWU believes that if the allowance is impressive then other unions might agree to it.”

On the contrary, government is of the view that the salary adjustments for disciplined forces are irrelevant to the ongoing negotiations between employer and trade unions, as the Public Service Act does not govern forces.