The move was very surprising because when he served under former president Ian Khama’s tenure Masisi had earned himself a reputation of being anti-trade unions. He was even amongst key government officials (then minister) who aggressively defended the government’s mother of all public service strikes in 2011.
Just after ascending to the presidential seat, Masisi further endeared himself to the civil servants by significantly increasing their salaries and improving their general welfare.
Previously, civil servants’ salaries and working conditions negotiations were widely perceived to be a hot potato.
Four years later, Masisi’s relations with trade unions it appear are yet to reach a desired level. Trade unions accuse him of using them as a vehicle to win the 2019 general election. They say they have now become increasingly frustrated by the Masisi administration, which they accuse of sheer betrayal and reneging on many promises such as the resuscitation of the Public Service Bargaining Council (PSBC).
The PSBC, which is a platform used by government to discuss and negotiate matters relating to public service workers, has not been operational since 2015. During the early days of his reign, Masisi promised that the PSBC functions will be his priority, but unions accuse his government of doing little to revive the structure.
They also claim that his government has maintained the tradition of the Khama administration of not following proper channels when communicating issues relating to public service workers welfare such as embracing dialogue as he promised during the early days of his presidency.
For example, early this year the government made a pronouncement that it will not increase salaries of civil servants. In turn, the public service trade unions accused the government of dealing with them in bad faith because there was no consultation when the decision not to increase salaries was taken.
The government would later bow down to pressure and withdraw its communique on the non-increase of salaries.
The government has over the last two years constantly made public pronouncements that it intends to cut down the public service and the scarce skill allowance for some cadres in a bid to address its souring wage bill.
On the other hand, unions have often condemned such public pronouncements arguing that there should be thorough engagement on the two subjects before any public announcement is made.
Labour organisations have also accused Masisi of presiding over a very corrupt government, doing little to grow the economy and cushion Batswana from the rising cost of living.
Yesterday, the Botswana Federation of Public Private and Parastatal Sector Unions (BOFEPUSU) president, Johannes Tshukudu said BOFEPUSU is deeply frustrated by Masisi’s reluctance to revive the PSBC. He added that when Masisi took over power (in April 2018) he promised that the PSBC will be up and running in September 2018, but he has never shown any commitment to revive the structure.
Tshukudu admitted that there is a constitutional crisis relating to how voting rights should be allocated amongst trade unions in the PSBC. He however, said the main reason why the PSBC cannot be resuscitated is because of lack of government commitment.
“The government knows that decisions that would be taken at the PSBC will be binding. That is why the government does not want the structure to fully function,” he said.
He added that State ministers under Masisi have often showed less commitment to meet BOFEPUSU leaders and address factors such as illegal retrenchments that continue to take place in the country and replacing the minimum wage with the living wage amongst others.
“We have also repeatedly experienced situations where ministers refused our requests for meetings to address pressing matters affecting the working class. This is despite the fact that we always honour their proposals for meetings,” he said.
Tshukudu added that if Masisi valued the working class, he could have honoured their request for a meeting to discuss issues around the constitutional review. The union believes that the way the constitutional review process is being undertaken does not bother on inclusivity and might lead to a less progressive Constitution.
This week, Botswana Public Employees Union (BOPEU) president, Masego Mogwera conceded that Masisi’s regime and unions have relationship challenges. She, however, highlighted that although the relationship between government and trade unions has some challenges it is better compared to during the Khama administration. Her views on the Masisi regime were a total contrast to that of BOFEPUSU.
“I would say that the relationship between trade unions and the current administration is fairly cordial. The President is always a phone call away when we need his intervention on matters affecting workers,” she said.
Mogwera does concede that the Masisi administration has often made pronouncements about issues relating to workers without consulting trade unions.
She however pointed that unlike in the past administration, where such pronouncements had been made, the Masisi government has often been quick to offer a retraction following the intervention of trade unions.
“Ministers and permanent secretaries under the Masisi regime have also been very receptive and willing to engage us on various matters relating to various issues affecting public service workers. Even the salary talks under Masisi’s leadership have been held in a very cordial atmosphere,” she added.
It is not only public service unions that believe Masisi has not pursued his pro working-class agenda. Botswana Mine Workers Union (BMWU) president, Joseph Tsimako told Mmegi that Masisi has never made any initiative to know or understand problems faced by the mine workers and deal with them accordingly.
“Last year he went to Phikwe, and we expected that he was going to engage us on issues pertaining to the sector and hear our side of the story. Unfortunately, his visit was only to announce the reopening of BCL,” he said.
“He made us to believe that ministers will listen to our issues and brief him, and he would later find time to come back to Phikwe to engage us, but nothing has ever been fulfilled.”
He added, “Masisi doesn’t have the interest of workers at heart.”
Besides Masisi, the BMWU leader said that union has on several occasions engaged ministers on various issues concerning the sector such as liquidation of mines, refusal to recognise BMWU by some of the mines, inclusion of BMWU in the sector High Level Consultative Council, but none of the issues were resolved.
