Cresta employees get 15.5% pay hike

BABOKI KAYAWE
Staff Writer | Wednesday February 23, 2011 00:00

 

In addition, they have  secured another five percent increment which will come into effect at the end of July, BHTTWU executive officer, Nicholas Motiki has said.

'We are happy with the outcome of our negotiations because management has finally agreed to provide an increment which falls within the 10-13 percent threshold, and agreed to an additional five percent which totals 15.5 percent,' Motiki said at a press briefing yesterday. 

In addition, Cresta management will backdate the increment from July 2010. The good news comes after workers held a demonstration in November last year because the two parties reached a deadlock over the wage dispute.Motiki said that in November, Cresta Marakanelo employees agreed to ask for a 25 percent salary hike, which they later lowered to 18 and subsequently 13 percent.

Despite the climb-down, management could not match the offer because it said it cannot only afford a five percent hike.

'Later on management was willing to negotiate and during the mediation, they said they would offer 10 percent pay raise, only to turn against their word,' he said.

Motiki explained that after this the workers went on strike again because they believed it was the best way forward.

The impasse went on until December 15 when management said it would settle for five percent and not the initial 10percent.

This saw BHTTWU bringing onboard the Botswana Federation of Public Sector Unions (BOFEPUSU). Motiki said BOFEPUSU came with very useful strategies, which helped change the management's stance.

He assured the nation that all is back to normal and as employees, they are willing to work with management to increase hotel bookings that were tainted by the stand-off.

He explained that the increment covers both unionised and non-unionised members.