13 Oct 2013

Teachers’ unions should articulate for workers welfare with botho, says director of regional operation of central region, Ms Molebi Morolong.

Officially opening Botswana Sectors of Educators Trade Union (BOSETU) Palapye office over the weekend, Ms Morolong said disagreeing with the employer on issues concerning teachers was not a problem but it should be done with respect.

She said the value of botho was lacking in some organisations something that she said created animosity between the unions and the employer. “You should be lucky that you are Batswana because some countries do not enjoy the same privilege as you,” she said.

Ms Morolong also challenged teachers to ask themselves why they joined unions. She said it was important for teachers to understand why they joined unions, urging them to read and understand the statutes.

She said teachers should not rely on union leaders to explain the statutes for them but should read and understand them themselves, adding that those who did not know why they joined unions should withdraw.

“You should empower yourselves by reading and understanding these statutes so that when one makes a selfish decision, you are able to pick and critic it,” she said.  She said the reason behind unionism was to advocate for teachers’ welfare with one voice.

However she said it was distracting that some union members’ aim was to assume power, which will result in the collapse of the organisation. She said out of 30 000 teachers who are members of trade unions, 14 000 were BOSETU members while the rest were affiliated to other unions.

She said time had come for teachers join forces and speak with one voice because that was where people capitalized if they wanted to bring unions down.

Furthermore she commended BOSETU for opening its offices in various regions saying that it will help its members to access services closer to them.

She said the opening an office in Palapye will help address teacher’s grievances in the central region. Nonetheless she said teachers should engage her office before involving their union representatives.

For his part BOSETU’s Executive Secretary Mr Justin Hunyepa said BOSETU opened regional offices in Gaborone, Francistown, Maun and Palapye.

He said the union was planning to open another office next year to serve Kanye and surrounding areas.

He said it was his office’s responsibility to ensure that members understood the statutes put in place to guide them as such the union continued to hold workshops and meetings to empower its members.

He said BOSETU stood to represent its members during disciplinary hearings and also provided funeral covers to its members, the service he said the government failed to provide.

Mr Hunyepa said BOSETU is not an enemy of the government but considered the government as a partner hence the reason the two go to court to resolve issues harmoniously

He said government threatened to recall the union leadership back into the public service but he said the unions were also planning something big for the government.

“When you dig a grave for your enemy, you have to dig two,” he said. The union members also donated food hamper to Legodimo Mosenene, a former student who did not manage to complete form five due to ill health.