BOFEPUSU aims arsenal at DPSM's Mosalakatane
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Friday November 23, 2018 12:29
BOFEPUSU also points a finger at Mosalakatane for the lack of progress in the resuscitation of the Public Service Bargaining Council (PSBC).
Members of the BOFEPUSU executive committee said when addressing members of the media Mosalakatane and some of her workers still posses the same old mentality of treating trade unions as beggars.
The federation's general secretary Tobokani Rari said that Mosakalatane has proven a brick wall for convening of meetings between the employer and unions for salary negotiations.
He said that the director has failed to respond to the two letters, which they wrote to her demanding a meeting for the resuscitation of the PSBC and salary negotiations.
'I don't know how she works in that public office. She is very sluggish. Her actions are delaying the salary negotiations. It will snowball into something beyond 2019,' Rari said.
Rari said that they were shocked when the DPSM said that they are not recognised under Section 46 of the Public service Act (PSA) even though they were recognised by Section 48 of the Trade Unions and Employers Organisations Act, a recognition that they carried through when the new PSA came into effect in 2009.
He stated that they were hopeful of mending relationships with government after the administration indicated that it is willing to work with unions.
BOFEPUSU president Johannes Tshukudu said that President Mokgweetsi Masisi should continuously monitor the work of the people he has put into high public office.
'It is still clear that those the President has chosen to serve us think trade unions are beggars and should always beg them. But we believe that according to the law it is not a privilege, it is a right that trade unions must exist because by structures they form part of the tripartite arrangement. Continuously they need to engage and negotiate better working conditions of service for the entire workforce of Botswana (sic),' Tshukudu said.
Tshukudu added that there are those at the DPSM who want to be workers of the enemies and hopes that President Masisi would put them to order.
Tshukudu also called for the introduction of a living wage to replace the minimum wage, which he said is the cause of workers' slavery in the country.
Tshukudu stated that parliamentarians should make progressive laws for the benefit of the citizens they represent.
'What Batswana are currently earning, it is not enough to take care of their needs. The salaries are not enough to feed their families, take care of school fees and clothe them while allowing them dignified lives,' he said.
He said that they would engage the ruling party's labour committee about the protection of workers' rights in the country.
He also indicated that MPs who do not support the workers' struggle would not be voted to return to Parliament in 2019.