UB unions support strike

CHANDAPIWA BAPUTAKI
Staff Writer | Tuesday April 19, 2011 00:00

In a statement released yesterday, the unions said that reports of corruption involving senior officials suggest that money is being wasted and lost through corruption, mismanagement and unethical conduct of some in the leadership. Revealing their support for the ongoing industrial strike by the public service employees the UB unions said they reject 'government's lackadaisical attitude and do not accept the reasons given for its refusal to accede to civil servants' reasonable demands.'

President of UBASSSU, Dr Never Tshabang said in a statement that civil servants are faced with salary and incentive problems, proposed increments, which are not up to the mark, wrongful discharge or dismissal of employees and erosion of concessions or privileges. He stated that UB unions also reject government's intimidation 'frolics,' that striking workers would be dismissed. 'Civil servants have gained rights in the workplace, as contained in Botswana's labour laws. Such rights include the right to unionise and the right to strike for collective bargaining. The right to strike is a human right recognised and protected by international law. It is vital in worker's ability, through trade unions, to defend workers' rights,' he said adding that 'we stand in solidarity with our comrades in the public service, under the auspices of BOFEPUSU, and are exploring options of ways to express our sympathy with the civil servants who will be on strike the next 10 days.'

In the statement, the two unions said that civil servants, like other workers in parastatals and private sector, endure economic hardships, as their purchasing power has been significantly eroded over the past few years. 'The ultimate goal of the trade unions is to protect the interests of the workers and conditions under, which they work.

Unions seek to improve wages and benefits, ensure fairness by the employer, protect employment and income security.' 

They pointed out that it has been more than three years, owing partly to the economic meltdown, since public sector employees received inflationary adjustment and/or salary increment. 'While the government has been thoughtless and oblivious of the plight of workers by increasing taxes and introducing new levies, workers patiently waited for the economy to recover before they could make demands. The economy is recovering and public servants' demands are timely,' the statement from the unions said.

'The government contends that there is no money to meet the workers' demands and that the economy has not fully recovered. However, the government has engaged in flashy, extravagant and gratuitous spending in pet projects, security sector, constituency leagues, and other unnecessary expenditure such as refurbishment of the state house, building of ministers' official houses and furniture procurement at colossal amounts of money,' the statement said.

Public Sector unions are demanding a 13.8 percent inflationary adjustment and a 2.2 percent salary increment.