BMWU secretary general Jack Tlhagale said that the decision was made by the general council. He added that the BMWU constitution was amended in 2004 to accommodate full time positions. He stressed that it is really struggling financially though it is paying the officials. He added that after dismissals, the officials could not quit union leadership because there is still a lot to be done to stabilise the organisation. However, the officials' term end in September this year and those who fail to retain their positions in elections will not be struck-off the payroll.
Meanwhile Tlhagale said he will contest the presidency of the umbrella Botswana Federation of Trade Unions with controversial Botswana Teachers Union (BTU) president Jafta Radibe as his running mate. The BFTU elections are billed for this weekend.
Tlhagale said once elected BFTU president, he will formulate a strategic plan for the organisation. "The organisation is currently fragmented and divided and people do not seem to be working together. Hence the need to unify the entire membership and urge all affiliates to pull together. Visibility and accessibility of the BFTU is also a problem. The leadership must be accessible to members and all regional structures must be made to work."
