Moroka calls for negotiations

ISAIAH MOREWAGAE
Staff Writer | Friday May 17, 2013 00:00

 

Delivering his judgement that saw government lose its battle against the five affiliates of Botswana Federation of Public Sector Unions (BOFEPUSU), Moroka said it was high time government and trade unions fully appreciated their collective duty to ensure a stable and productive public service.

'A stable and reproductive public service shall never be attained by victories in the court rooms, but by fairness in the boardroom in the true spirit of collective bargaining.  Fairness in the board room will prevent these disruptive court skirmishes and restore trust between employer and employees,' Moroka said.He further said that both parties' commitment to acting fairly and honouring agreements will eliminate the need for legal battles.

Moroka said: 'Unfortunately, the birth of public sector employees trade unions in Botswana has been attended by severe birth pains which are postnatally disruptive. The sooner both the government and the trade unions recognise their respective duties of ensuring a stable and a productive public service for the good of all Batswana the better'.

He said central to democratic governance is the duty to consult before making decisions which adversely impact on the rights of the governed.He expressed the sentiments after nullifying the then former Director of Public Service Management Festinah Bakwena's decision to terminate organisational rights that unions had enjoyed until August 2011 when her controversial decision was to take effect.

Other contestable decisions that government took were: cessation of assistance with deduction of loan repayments, cessation of the secondment of public service employees to unions, and cessation of transportation of employee representatives to congresses, annual conferences and governing councils.