Nurses' union a boost to labour movement

* Martha Tinny Molema | Friday August 17, 2012 00:00

Unionisation of nurses, like that of educators advances the public interest beyond the primary interest of the nurses themselves. BONU therefore should also fight for a quality health care system, accessible to all. Through collective bargaining and other methods of struggle, it should turn around the stigma of disgruntled nurses in government hospitals. We therefore support BONU's existence as justifiable both in their own interest and in social terms.

However, we hasten to warn the new union about the hostile local trade union environment, which is characterised by intense competition in the public sector, driven by businesses and union benefit schemes.  Private business, especially the financial sector, depend on government employment and income to drive their growth. So they selfishly cause a lot of confusion and divisions in the labour movement in their profit drive. Ours is therefore, a very harsh environment to nurture a union.

On the other hand the labour laws and dispute resolution are weak in protecting freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining, perhaps by design. The state also occasionally takes sides and may even launch an onslaught against your union or simply refuse to deal with you, while promoting rival unions. Therefore your union has to develop a thick skin and learn survival skills very fast.

Fellow trade unions would use every noose and ruse to protect their erstwhile hegemonic interests, driven by monopolies and business cartels. Sometimes they may team up with employers, government, politicians and the media to discredit your union. But stand firm and fight for your rights.

As TAWU we promise to stand with you, as with any group of workers that seeks to assert their right to exist and to bargain for their members. Do not be afraid of the government and the so-called big unions. It is normal that they would, in the beginning try to intimidate you. When that fails, they may approach you to accept assimilation and incorporation. When that fails they will fight you openly, targeting your members with loans and dual memberships. But fight a good fight and never give up even when they inflict heavy blows. In due course they will accept your existence. We encourage you to conceptualise your horizon beyond the government sector. This is important as public services have come under attack from neoliberal globalisation, which increasingly reduce the scope of government services. It is strategic not to depend only on government employment, which is going to shrink in the long run due to the privatisation tide. For now it may seem farfetched, but that undercurrent exists.

Lastly, develop independence from employers and do not rely on their resources. Do not be bought to compromise truth. Instead, build internal democracy and rely on your members' unity. Do not give room to opportunistic and populist values. Stand on principle. Maintain and nurture international solidarity, especially with the nursing fraternity. Fight for the ratification of the ILO Nursing Personnel Convention and teach it to your members.

The earlier you start this journey the better for the future and sustainability of your union. We have survived on these tested truisms amid the hatred, marginalisation and exclusion from government and its friends. You will also survive and grow.

*Martha Tinny Molema is Publicity and Education Secretary, Trainers and Allied Workers Union (TAWU) based at the Francistown College of Education, Francistown.