UB salary matter back to University Council

Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Wednesday November 1, 2017 14:43

The university employees have been embroiled in a bitter war over salary disputes, which saw the workers, through their labour movements, the University of Botswana Academic and Senior Support Staff Union (UBASSSU), and University of Botswana Staff Union (UBSU), petition the Vice Chancellor (VC) a fortnight ago. In the petition, the workers demanded a seven percent adjustment to their salaries.

The workers indicated that they ought to have benefited from the three and four percent salary hike that was awarded public officers in April 2016 and 2017 respectively.

The workers also declared a motion of no confidence against some members of the management and called for disciplinary action against them saying they were dishonest when they dealt with the workers.

However, the two parties met last week and agreed to refer the issue of the seven percent salary hike demanded by UB employees to the University Council to address and adopt a resolution. 

The parties agreed that the University Council is best suited to deal with the issue of salary adjustments.

“We met after seven days, which we had given the VC. It has since been agreed that the issue of seven percent be sent to council for resolution. 

The council meets on November 10.” “Regarding the issue of dishonest dealings by some members of management, it was agreed that thorough investigations be done before any determination is made,” UBASSSU chairperson, Kaelo Molefhe said.

Molefhe said they have not set timelines as to how long investigations would last. He further indicated that they would wait for the council to make a resolution on salaries before deciding on their next step. 

The acting director of Public Affairs, Tefo Mangope could not be reached for comment. UB has been struggling financially, with the Minister of Education, Research, Science and Technology, Dr Alfred Madigele recently stating that the financial woes are self-inflicted.

Madigele said the UB was currently on a shoestring budget owing to a “unilateral decision to increase salaries by 35%”. It has emerged that UB is struggling financially and cannot maintain equipment nor train staff.