About BOJA and the Allied Workers Union

It has evolved from a social gathering of state press employees, to something of a professional organisation especially after the establishment of the first viable private sector newspaper, The Botswana Guardian in 1983.  It is now in the process of transition and further to what should now be a vibrant trade union following the struggle of the Botswana Federation of Trade Unions to compel the government to accede to the International Labour Organisation 'human rights' conventions.

Among others, the conventions require recognition of the right of workers of all categories, including state employees, to organise and participate in trade unions. For many years, BOJA was trapped in the position where unionisation would have meant exclusion of the state media employees who were not permitted by law to form and belong to trade unions.