Cresta Marakanelo employees strike

EPHRAIM KEORENG
Staff Writer | Tuesday November 23, 2010 00:00

Botswana Hotel Travel and Tourism Workers Union National Chairman Mpho Moloi told Mmegi that the strike will run from today until Saturday this week.

Speaking in an interview yesterday, Moloi said after negotiations collapsed between the two parties union members agreed that they should go on an industrial action.

The union leader has however complained that though the strike is legal and the Cresta management has been officially notified, it is employing some intimidatory tactics to coerce employees not to strike. 'Yesterday when we reported for work we realised that they have now written a statement ordering all those who are going to strike to write down their names. We don't take kindly to this, as it is a ploy to force people to come to work,' he said.

Moloi said for the whole week all members at all Cresta Management hotels in Botswana will convene close to their workplaces and sing during the weeklong stay away.

'For those of us who work at Cresta Lodge and President Hotel, we will meet at main mall and sing throughout,' he said.

Meanwhile after receiving a Mmegi questionnaire on the strike, Cresta Management managing director Tawanda Makaya said the company will compile a press release. 'The said press release will cover all the areas covered in the email questionnaire and will go a step further in informing our customers, shareholders and the nation at large regarding the industrial action by the union as well as the various attempts employed by management to reach an amicable solution with the union,' said Makaya.