Govt finally appoints representatives to PSBC

Baboki Kayawe | Friday January 31, 2014 17:12

BABOKI KAYAWE

Staff Writer

overnment has finally appointed alternate representatives to the Public Service Bargaining Council (PSBC) after a delay of three years. In a statement yesterday, DPSM spokeswoman, Osesenaqa Lekgoko said the appointment is in line with the requirement of the law that the representatives have alternates of an equal number. 'For some time, government was unable to fill in the position of the alternate members,' she said.

She said the positions were approved and filled on January 21, 2014 and the council convened last Monday to continue with normal business and pave way for negotiations. Failure to fill the positions has been a source of distress to trade unions who have waged a war against government on the matter. Even after the appointment, the umbrella public sector union, BOFEPUSU is not very pleased. BOFEPUSU deputy secretary general, Ketlhalefile Motshegwa said appointing representatives to the council alone is inadequate if they are not free and independent people who can negotiate without fear. However, he said the move is testimony to the effectiveness of union pressure on government.

'Appointing representatives is not critical. What is critical is that the appointed people are free and leveraged to negotiate without their hands being tied,' he said. He warned that filling the posts does not mean that the council will be efficient. He told government to respect the council and refrain from issuing directives to it through the DPSM chief.

Motshegwa said their expectation is that the representatives are well vested in labour issues and bring something to promote the work of the PSBC. The council operates on a 50-50 representation, from government and recognised public service trade unions. It was established under Section 50 and 51 of the Public Service Act to among other things, negotiate and enforce collective bargaining agreements between the employer and recognised public service trade unions; and to facilitate cooperation between the employer and the public officers regarding matters affecting the public service in order to increase efficiency of the service and wellbeing of public service

In a statement yesterday, DPSM spokeswoman, Osesenaqa Lekgoko said the appointment is in line with the requirement of the law that the representatives have alternates of an equal number. 'For some time, government was unable to fill in the position of the alternate members,' she said. She said the positions were approved and filled on January 21, 2014 and the council convened last Monday to continue with normal business and pave way for negotiations.

Failure to fill the positions has been a source of distress to trade unions who have waged a war against government on the matter. Even after the appointment, the umbrella public sector union, BOFEPUSU is not very pleased. BOFEPUSU deputy secretary general, Ketlhalefile Motshegwa said appointing representatives to the council alone is inadequate if they are not free and independent people who can negotiate without fear. However, he said the move is testimony to the effectiveness of union pressure on government. 'Appointing representatives is not critical. What is critical is that the appointed people are free and leveraged to negotiate without their hands being tied,' he said. He warned that filling the posts does not mean that the council will be efficient.

He told government to respect the council and refrain from issuing directives to it through the DPSM chief. Motshegwa said their expectation is that the representatives are well vested in labour issues and bring something to promote the work of the PSBC. The council operates on a 50-50 representation, from government and recognised public service trade unions. It was established under Section 50 and 51 of the Public Service Act to among other things, negotiate and enforce collective bargaining agreements between the employer and recognised public service trade unions; and to facilitate cooperation between the employer and the public officers regarding matters affecting the public service in order to increase efficiency of the service and wellbeing of public service.