We supported BMWU- BFTU
Tapela Morapedi | Wednesday May 3, 2017 16:10
Speaking during the Workers Day commemorations in Selebi-Phikwe on Monday Lentswe said it has been difficult for BFTU to link up with BMWU leadership.
“We respect the decision by BMWU to disaffiliate from us but we are concerned that BMWU members have been told untruths about our lack of support to their plight. Members should know that even when we presented a petition to Vice President ,Mokgweetsi Masisi last year, BMWU top leadership did not attend despite being aware of the activity,” he said.
Lentswe explained that the problem of BCL did not start with the closure of the mine and said deteriorating conditions at the BCL have been evident in the past few years. He said BFTU was constantly liaising with BMWU leadership to get first hand information on the developments.
“We have even visited the mine at least three times last year and attended BMWU activities in solidarity with the workers,” he said. He also noted that BFTU even took it upon itself to send its official to meet BMWU leadership and even went to the scene of a horrific accident that claimed the lives of mine employees in 2015.
He also added that BFTU was the first federation to meet BMWU leadership in Gaborone to express their solidarity when BCL and Tati mines were closed down last year.
“That was the last meeting we had as all efforts we have made to reach them failed until they notified us that they have decided to withdraw their membership from BFTU,” he added.
Meanwhile, Lentswe expressed concern that workers in Botswana through their organisations are less united than before and that they act more in competition with each other instead of complementing each other. He said as such workers have lost ground on social dialogue and have given Government more space to make their lives difficult.
“We really need to reclaim our social dialogue space and we can only do so if we become our brother’s keeper,” he said.
He noted that Parliament recently passed a law that deems every employee essential thus taking away his or her fundamental right to strike. He said the new law categorically bans any employee in essential services cadre from taking part in a strike. He said according to the new law, any essential service worker who engages in a strike would be eligible to a prison term.
He explained that Botswana has ratified Convention 144 on tripartite consultation and this obliges Government to consult workers and employers. He indicated that their submissions at the tripartite advisory board were ignored and they strongly believe that the law violates the ILO conventions.
“BFTU has taken a step to lodge a complaint to the ILO for violation of conventions and we are likely to see Botswana for the first time being discussed in the committee on the application of standards (CAS). Our aim is not the discussion at the CAS but to pressure government to reverse this law and we count on the unity and solidarity among workers in exerting this pressure,” he said
Lentswe also expressed a concern that workers continue to toil under difficult conditions as evidenced by many being retrenched and cited BCL and Tati mines employees that led to BMWU lose a great deal of membership. He emphasised the need for the labour movements to be more united to mitigate against the effects of the retrenchments.
Officially opening the celebration, the Minister of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development, Tshenolo Mabeo noted that May Day has a rich history and symbolism of solidarity as it is commemorated in honour of men and women who have contributed to the country’s economic development. He noted that Botswana’s economy relies on workers who have since independence been very reliable and earnest in executing their responsibilities with diligence.
Mabeo said that when Botswana celebrated 50 years of Independence, she equally celebrated the success of the workers who grew the economy from being classified as less developed to middle income economy, and they are still working hard to ensure that Botswana meet and beats the demand of globalisation.
For his part Selebi-Phikwe East MP, Nonofo Molefhi pleaded with the trade Unions to be patient with Government, saying all parties must find each other and advise each other on labour relations.