BOFEPUSU sues Gov�t over salary adjustments
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Friday March 31, 2017 16:47
The Botswana Federation of Public Private Parastatals Sector Unions (BOFEPUSU) plans an interdiction of increments and adjustments government announced on Wednesday with effect from April 1, 2017. Salaries, allowances and conditions of service for certain categories of its non-unionised employees as well as the monthly social grants for specified beneficiaries have been adjusted.
This includes a four percent increment on salaries and related allowances, housing and upkeep adjustment of P100 to all staff members of the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) and Police and Prison Services. This also includes adjustments for the directorates of Intelligence and Security (DIS) and Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC), the chairperson and other members of the Public Service Commission, the Attorney General, Auditor General, secretary of the Independent Electoral Commission, director of Public Prosecutions, judicial service, dikgosi, and non-unionised members of the public service.
BOFEPUSU deputy secretary general, Ketlhalefile told Mmegi that they have consulted the union lawyers and will be filing an urgent application for an interdiction of the increment.
He said that the current awarding of salary increments is a continuation of the disrespect of the Collective Bargaining process and massacre of its council by government. Motshegwa added that the matter of salary increments is subjudice as it is still before the court for determination of the scope of the Bargaining Council.
“It is disrespect and contempt of the courts for government to act on matters that are still before court for determination,” he said.
“We finished consultation with the lawyers and we are filing an urgent application for interdiction of the increment so that we wait for determination of the matter at court to allow the council to perform its role in dealing with salary negotiations.”
Motshegwa explained that the interdiction would allow the court to determine the scope of the Bargaining Council. According to him, it is clear that government has unleashed a vicious war against trade unions.
“We tried to be reconciliatory to government for the sake of peace and stability of the country. This we made clear in our meeting with the assistant minister Kwerepe. But it is now clear that government enjoys chaos and is not solution oriented. We can only say if they want war, then war is what they will get from unions as unions seek to protect collective Bargaining and other workers’ rights,” he added.
Motshegwa said that they recently had a meeting with the assistant minister of Presidential Affairs, Public Administration and Governance, Thato Kgwerepe where they narrated to him a number of challenges facing the public service and matters that the trade unions are unhappy about.
Such issues include low morale and disillusionment in the public service due to government’s ill-treatment of employees, violations of workers’ rights and the continued disrespect of government towards the Public Service Bargaining Council (PSBC).
“Government officials at the PSBC don’t attend meetings and thus making it dysfunctional. We implored the assistant minister to urge government to create harmonious labour relations for productivity in the public service, stability and prosperity of the country. We informed him that BOFEPUSU is ready for dialogue with government in finding lasting solutions to challenges prevalent in labour relations of this country.”
Meanwhile, Motshegwa revealed that they have written to the President to dismiss private secretary to the President (PSP), Carter Morupisi as he is misleading government and has caused chaos in the public service.
He said that instead of the director of the Directorate of Public Service Management (DPSM), Ruth Maphorisa acting on salaries the PSP has usurped her powers and sidelined her.