Rakhudu urges BTU to work harmoniously with employer

Staff Writer | Friday April 9, 2010 00:00

 

Officiating at the BTU Congress of Delegates in Goodhope yesterday, Keletso Rakhudu said, however, unions have to learn not to commit the mistakes of employers. He told the teachers that unions must understand and undertake to facilitate the workplace environment by engaging the employer on a positive developmental mode, for it is only when the employer has been so engaged that they will create a much better workplace environment. He said it is when the employer understands the role of the union that they will recognise the potential for value-add, and that the employer can only share a true win-win scenario with the union. Rakhudu said the Teacher-Employer-Union tripartite should be natured in all respects, for herein lies the win-win situation. 'Should the Botswana Teachers Union achieve this, the Botswana Government, the employer, can only invest heavily in this relationship, and symbiosis will be created,' Rakhudu said. 

 The assistant minister said many would believe that there should be conflict and acrimony between the union and the employer, and that the relationship needs to be combative. He described such a relationship as a sure recipe for failure and disaster and said it is both their responsibility to kill this myth. 

He revealed that it is upon that realisation, that the ministry showed and demonstrated political will to engage all of the Teachers' Unions right from the onset, to create a positive environment, which should lead to a win-win situation for all. 

Rakhudu said it is also important for the unions to realise that they are a result of, or are born of the engagement and or contracting between the employee and the employer. 'It is for this very reason that as much as it is humanly possible, the union must be seen to be cementing this relationship, rather than straining it. This is not of course to derail or distract the union from its role as a representative of the employee in as far as welfare issues are concerned,' Rakhudu told the teachers.

He stated that the Congress of Delegates has convened at a crucial time, when the education sector, in recent years has been experiencing a decline in performance in schools, and one would have hoped that this could be an area that the congress would address.

Rakhudu requested the teachers to share and understand the new management vision. 'We realise and acknowledge that there are a lot of issues that have been tabled to our predecessors and as much as you have waited patiently for their resolution, we urge you to give us time to position ourselves and come up with what we believe are appropriate strategies to address these.

Issues related to teacher welfare are very important since they impact directly on the performance of schools as referred to earlier,' he urged.

The congress that ended today was held under the theme 'Peoples' Solidarity against Poverty and oppression.'