DTCB union strike on for Monday

EPHRAIM KEORENG
Staff Writer | Friday October 8, 2010 00:00

The DTCB union and management have been at loggerheads over the issue of remuneration which includes allowances for some months. Lately the dispute went to the labour department for mediation, but the two parties could not agree on how to address the issue, hence there was a deadlock, Mmegi is informed.

Updating the media on what led to the decision to strike, DTCB Union chairman Kelepile said they had realised that the company management is not serious about addressing their concerns.

'Employees want to be taken seriously. At a meeting that decided we should go on strike, a vote was taken and 94.7 percent voted in favour of the strike whilst only 5.3 percent were against. The resolution tells us that starting Monday next week DTCB employees will go on an indefinite strike. That is, we will withdraw our labour until our demands are met by management,' he said.

He explained that because their industry is a sensitive one where they handle diamonds, they have a standing agreement with the management that in the event they go on strike, a small fraction of security officers will remain working.

'So that is what will happen next week Monday,' he said. The union chairman, who was speaking at a media conference this week said they are shocked that the company management doled out cash donation to a school when they fail to meet employee demands for wage hike.

Kelepile said the company is taunting them.

'Ba ikgatha ka rona. They decided to donate P300,000 to a school in Oodi. We are not against philanthropy, but how do you give out money when you refuse to give it to your employees who tell you they need it? Ke lenyatso, these people don't take us seriously,' he said.

In an earlier interview, DTCB spokesman Kago Mmopi told Mmegi that the issue of the 2010 salary negotiations has been mediated and the mediation failed. 

He said that they are shocked that there is a looming strike when it has been agreed that the two parties will meet to sort out the matter today.

'DTC Botswana would however wish to state that it was agreed with the union on 4 October 2010 that further engagements will continue on 8 October 2010 and as such we are surprised to hear media reports of a looming strike.

'Additionally, management has always been and will continue it's commitment to constructive engagement with the union on any issue,' he said.