Khama's reign destroyed trade unionism, Mogwera says
Monkagedi Gaothobogwe | Friday December 14, 2018 13:04
“I need not remind you of the distress, scars and embarrassment which public servants and trade unions were subjected to under the administration of former president Dr. Seretse Khama Ian Khama,” Mogwera said.
Mogwera paid tribute to the new President Mokgweetsi Masisi for the encouraging start with trade unions, saying, “Without any fear of contradiction, public servants and trade unions are better off with His Excellency President Masisi.
“Our assessment of President Masisi is that unlike his predecessor, he is consultative, willing to engage and listen. It is my sincere hope that President Masisi’s qualities translate into tangible improvements in the welfare of public servants. It is our hope that President Masisi will repeal all oppressive labour laws which flout ratified International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions”.
Mogwera reminded Masisi’s administration that BOPEU expects substantive and tangible changes, which speak to the lives and welfare of public servants, while cosmetic and populist changes will not be acceptable to the trade unions members.
Mogwera said in their view, the status of industrial relations between government as the employer, and trade unions is gradually improving and moving towards the rights direction. She said since the ascendance of Masisi, they have witnessed a positive change of attitude in government during their various engagements.
She said such gesture by Masisi’s administration was a welcome break from the Khama era that was characterised by unilateralism, grotesque bad faith and absolute impunity.
However, the BOPEU president registered her displeasure with the manner in which trade unions are being ill-treated by the Directorate of Public Service Management (DPSM) in the process of resuscitating the defunct Public Service Bargaining Council (PSBC).
According to Mogwera, after the DPSM had invited all trade unions to resuscitate the PSBC, the trade unions were dismayed when the DPSM then claimed that BOPEU and other public sector trade unions were not registered trade unions within the meaning of Section 46 of the Public Service Act, 2008.
“This is not only disingenuous, but also malicious and deserves to be condemned with the contempt it deserves”.
“I must state and declare here and now that BOPEU will fight with all its might,” Mogwera said, adding that as a result of the DPSM stance, trade unions’ organisational and collective bargaining rights were now under threat, hence their decision to run to the courts recently to preserve their organisational rights, more specifically the right to participate, negotiate and draft the constitution of the Public Service Bargaining Council.”
Mogwera also registered concern with job losses at parastatals restructuring or privatising.
She also made a case for government vehicles to be insured.
Mogwera said they are concerned that when the government vehicles get involved in accidents the victims are not compensated.
“We believe that government employees who get injured whilst in government vehicles should be compensated. While this may sound like a little commercial for our company, we believe that through our Babereki Insurance Brokers we can provide tailor-made Government Vehicle Insurance service at a subsidised rate. The great benefit is that government employees would get compensated should they get injured travelling in a government vehicle.”
Meanwhile, the BOPEU congress also called for the establishment of the Labour Court of Appeal to adequately address concerns the labour movement have regarding the handling of labour disputes.
Mogwera said labour disputes in other countries have their own courts from lower courts to high courts.
Mogwera observed that while labour courts are courts of equity, the high courts determine disputes mainly on the application of legal principle with little or no regard for equity which is the hallmark of labour disputes resolution.
“Currently, from the Industrial Courts, labour disputes are escalated to the High Court and we believe the principle of equity in the determination of labour disputes is lost,” Mogwera further explained.
“We therefore propose that a Labour Court of Appeal be established. This will ensure consistence in the determination of labour disputes from the lower court (Industrial Court) to Labour Court of Appeal.”
The national general congress is a platform where members make a critical and honest assessment of the Union. This is the supreme structure of the union, which avails members an opportunity to check the pulse and viability of the Union. The national general congress is also an opportunity for the leadership to account to members.
Lastly, the national general congress affords members an opportunity to elect members of the national office bearers, being the president, the first deputy president, the second deputy president, gender and human rights and the treasurer general of the union. National structures such as the National appeals board and the board of trustees will also be elected at this congress.