BOPEU is favoured, alleges TAWU

CHANDAPIWA BAPUTAKI
Staff Writer | Tuesday August 10, 2010 00:00

In the letter dated August 3, 2010 from the labour department to the DPSM, TAWU is alleging favouritism of one union receiving financial assistance and want the same favour to be extended to all unions.

Speaking to Mmegi, TAWU President Allan Keitseng said the Botswana Public Service Union (BOPEU) has been receiving assistance in the form of rentals and payment of officers. 'We approached them at one point and they admitted to assisting BOPEU long before it unionised when it was known as the Botswana Civil Service Association (BCSA).  All unions must be treated equally,' Keitseng said adding that it was unfair for the unions that were not being assisted financially to compete at the same level as those receiving the assistance.   'Convention 151 states that the employer may assist unions but when they assist one out of seven it becomes discriminatory. We have requested the same and they said they do not have money and Botswana Teachers Union has received that but it was stopped at one point because the employer said there were many unions. Why should BOPEU be the only being assisted?' Keitseng asked.  However, BOPEU president, Andrew Motsamai explained that they negotiated for assistance for accommodation and transport as part of their convention, which allows for assistance by the employer.

'This is done without any expectations from both sides. That is why all the public service unions are assisted by the employer in one way or the other,' Motsamai said. 'It goes with maturity levels between the two. The benefits that employees are enjoying right now were negotiated by BCSA and what have those unions done? Manual Workers Union and us were sitting in the right structures that could influence the employer. It is an international standard that the employer assists the unions,' Motsamai added.

The hearing is scheduled for September 13, 2010 at the Gaborone District Labour Office in Gaborone and will be conducted by mediator Thusego Ohentse.