13 Apr 2014

Member of Parliament for Francistown South, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi, has petitioned Parliament on behalf of the Botswana Federation of Public Sector Unions (BOFEPUSU) regarding bargaining with the employer for improved terms and conditions of service.

Mr Mmolotsi said the purpose of the petition was to air the grievances of trade unions and BOFEPUSU because the President of Botswana and the director of Public Service Management (DPSM) had acted in disregard of their duty to bargain in good faith and in violation of rules of conduct governing negotiations.

He said President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama had resorted to making it known what the government’s final position was in respect of the 2014/2015 negotiations, before the bargaining parties could commence in earnest. President Khama indicated in public that government will offer a maximum of only four per cent salary increment and no more.

Mr Mmolotsi said President Khama went further to state that any attempt by the BOFEPUSU affiliated trade unions would serve only to delay the inevitable and that any delay at reaching the agreement basically accepting the four per cent offer will be at the detriment of members of the said trade unions since the government will not make any retrospective payment of the salary increment.

He said the DPSM had issued out public communication on salary adjustment to certain public officers, communicating the government’s proposal regarding the conditions of service for public servants which has been tabled for and is yet to be negotiated by the Public Service Bargaining Council.

Mr Mmolotsi said the petitioners were reasonably fearful that in the absence of the General Assembly’s intervention, the DPSM and the President intended to continue, or will most likely continue to manifest the conduct and activities that were being complained of.

He said the petitioners wished to call upon the National Assembly to do all within its powers to stop the President and the DPSM from undermining the Bargaining Council established by the very Parliament through the Public Service Act of 2008.

The Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Margaret Nasha, told MPs that they will not be allowed to comment on the petition but will be given copies to go and read and it will be upon them to bring the issue to Parliament in any form acceptable in the house for discussion. ENDS