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BOFEPUSO LEADERSHIP: Johannes Tshukudu [L] with Tobokani Rari
Prior to the 2014 general election, the Botswana Public, Private and Parastatal Federation of Trade Unions (BOFEPUSU) urged opposition parties to form an alliance that could dislodge the ruling Botswana Democratic Party. (BDP) of power. This resulted in the formation of the umbrella for democratic change (UDC) that changed the political landscape of the country, as for the first time, the BDP had obtained less than 50% of the votes cast.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, BOFEPUSU chairman, Johannes Tshukudu, sang a different tune regarding support for politicians ahead of the 2019 general elections. UDC because of the mistreatment suffered by the BDP-led government, Tshukudu said that they would focus on candidates in parliament and council rather than on political parties.
"No political party should make fun of our support in 2019 because it is not guaranteed. We will instead interrogate their manifestos and the caliber of the candidates they present, "he said.
Recently, UDC leaders have claimed that some leaders want to challenge constituencies belonging to the expelled Botswana Democracy Movement (BMD), but Tshukudu has denied this.
Let Masisi govern
Reacting to the current deadlock between President Masisi and his predecessor Ian Khama, Tshukudu asked them to repair their differences for the good of the country and called on the elders to mediate. "We know that during his presidency, Khama once asked former presidents Festus Mogae and the late Sir Ketumile Masire to stop wanting to rule the grave when they tried to intervene during the 2011 industrial strike. Maybe it's time for him to leave Masisi to govern, "he said.
Decent work
BOFEPUSU Secretary General, Tobokani Rari, revealed that the most important part of their agenda for workers is the national campaign and demonstrations for the introduction of the living wage. As it is the election season, he said that they would evaluate the character of current MPs across the file.
In June of this year, Shawn Ntlhaile, MP for Jwaneng / Mabutsane, introduced a motion calling for the enactment of a decent wage policy. The motion was rejected by the parliament, in particular by the ruling party. The motion has almost pbaded after the president stated that "The yes had it" but deputy from Shoshong Phillip Makgalemele called for division and after individual votes (button press), 15 MPs voted against the motion, while only 12 voted in favor of the motion.
According to Rari, this has greatly disrupted the federation, believing that it is the government's responsibility to protect its citizens from multinational corporations that are only seeking to make profits rather than improving the lives of its workers . Speaking in his usual lively voice to insist on one point, Rari said that they would not give in, but would push the government to put in place a decent wage policy.
He lamented that workers' rights, especially in the private sector, including the media industry, are being violated at will. "Some media prevent their employees from organizing. This is a problem that we will tackle and expose, "he said.
derecognition
Immediately after his accession to the presidency, President Masisi began to engage various stakeholders including the leadership of BOFEPUSU, an initiative hailed as going in the right direction. In October, public sector unions were shocked when the government, through the Public Service Management Branch (DPSM) Goitseone Mosalakatane proceeded with the derecognition.
Rari swept Mosalakatane saying that he did not understand his attitude towards the public sector unions. "We can not be required to comply with Section 46 of the PSA when we have been recognized by Section 48 of the Act on Trade Union and Employer Organizations. The law does not apply retrospectively, "he explained.
The five public sector unions have since taken the case to court and the claim will be heard in the Francistown Industrial Court on 26th from November 2018.
PEMANDU report
In his address on the state of the nation, President Masisi revealed that the government had commissioned a consultant, PEMANDU Associates of Malaysia, to review the current pay system of the public service in terms of salaries , allowances and benefits. "The advisory work should be completed before the end of December this year. Once the PEMANDU report has been finalized, the government will engage public sector unions on the recommendations it makes, "said President Masisi in his SONA.
In response to this, Rari stated that the Director of DPSM misled the President, his report having long been completed and refusing to share it with the public sector unions. On the 4th In October, the five public sector unions wrote to the DPSM asking for a meeting to discuss the report, as the deadline was limited because the budget process for the 2019/20 process had already begun.
Rari said she had not received a response from DPSM director Mosalakatane, but she had informed the president that they would involve the public sector unions.
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