DTC pay dispute goes for arbitration

EPHRAIM KEORENG
Staff Writer | Thursday November 4, 2010 00:00

The DTCB Union branch secretary Thatayaone Tauyakgale said yesterday that the arbitration is due to start this week is expected to finally lay the matter to rest within a month.

He said they resorted to arbitration after realising that it is the only way to resolve the impasse.

The union and management have for a long time been at loggerheads on remuneration for employees. At one time, the union engineered a strike for about two weeks over the matter.

'The resolutions of the arbitration are binding. When we asked management if they would give us what we want if the arbitration is to rule in our favour, they said yes. On the other hand, we know that the arbitrator's ruling is final and binding.

If he rules against us, we will have to accept it, failing which we will be de-recognised by the company as a union,' he said.

Meanwhile DTCB spokesman, Kago Mmopi has confirmed that the two parties have sent a request for arbitration to the Labour Commissioner. He said before the union went for industrial action, they had been urging for arbitration to resolve the deadlock. 'However the union chose to go on strike.

Now we are finally on common ground,' he said.

The union goes to the arbitration table with demands for an eight percent increase in cost of living allowance, while the management says it can only give six percent. The union demands a three percent increase in merit allowance but management wants to pop out 2.5 percent.

The union and management have released a joint media statement confirming that they have agreed to refer the dispute to arbitration in accordance with the Trade Dispute Act. 'In addition to the agreement on arbitration, the union has permanently called off the strike action which commenced on October 11, 2010 and was suspended on October 25, 2010.

The DTC Botswana management on the other hand will not unilaterally implement the offer given to the union before the strike. The parties are hopeful that an amicable solution to the dispute is in sight,' the statement said.