BOFEPUSU to strike next year

Oarabile Mosikare | Friday December 20, 2013 15:17

 

According to a statement from BOFEPUSU dated 17 December 2013, the federation lodged a dispute with the Commissioner of Labour in respect of a deadlock concerning the 2013/2014 wage increase.

“The deadlock has been brought about by the refusal of the government to bargain in good faith with BOFEPUSU. The refusal has taken the form of unilaterally withdrawing government representatives from the bargaining table; twice failing to come to the bargaining table despite being directed to do so by a judgement of the High Court.

BOFEPUSU was therefore left with little choice but to declare a dispute of interest in terms of the Trade Disputes Act [Cap 48:02],” reads the statement. 

The dispute has been lodged in two parts - as pertains to public officers employed in essential services being segregated from the dispute concerning non-essential service employees.  The disputes are scheduled for mediation on 23 December 2013.

“Public officers are entering into the sixth year without a meaningful pay increase, yet corruption within the executive under the current administration is more rampant than ever.  Millions of Pula are lost everyday through acts of corruption which have been brought to the attention of the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC),” the statement says. 

The DCEC has itself become corrupt and continues to turn a blind eye to these grave acts of corruption by senior civil servants and those in the executive, preferring to pursue cases of petty theft, which have a minimal impact on the state’s treasury, BOFEPUSU says.

“The amount of public funds that are lost due to corruption exceed the entire public service wage bill for a whole year. “If the dispute is not resolved amicably, the time is ripe for the most organised strike the country has ever seen. The labour movement emerged stronger than ever following the 2011 strike with valuable experience gained, which will be put to good use should the need for another strike arise.

Such a strike would most likely enjoy more support from the corridors of power due to its timing.

As we move into 2014, we will ensure that it is the year in which the public sector workers get the pay increase that they deserve and we will do everything in our power to see it. Unlike in 2011, there are now other options available in the event that strike action does not yield the desired outcome,” the statement says.