The impact of the strike on ordinary Batswana

When the close to 90,000 public service workers downed their tools in protest more than three weeks ago, the government relied on the skeletal staff that had remained on duty. Many of these decided not to go on strike for various reasons - many due to financial reasons were loathe to lose money because of the No Work, No Pay policy. Indeed there were those who out of their own principles did not want to go on strike.  Now weeks later, some workers that have not participated in the strike report being negatively impacted.  Many are overworked because of the shortage of staff. Productivity due to general dissatisfaction and general malaise has become a major casualty.

Government's insistence that it will not award the 16 percent the unions are demanding has not helped the situation. Already some non-striking workers who spoke to The Monitor have said that they would be joining the strike, as it is pointless to remain aloof when government is not showing any commitment towards their economic well-being.