Thousands of teachers cry foul over salary
Baboki Kayawe | Friday October 27, 2017 13:46
The state of affairs is a manifestation of the protracted battle between the Botswana Federation of Public Private Parastatals Sector Union (BOFEPUSU) and government over the three percent salary hike for financial year 2016/17 and the subsequent four percent awarded in the period 2017/18, which trade unions rejected arguing that government acted unilaterally to hike salaries. While other members of the civil service received the increment, those affiliated to the federation went for months without the same.
This June, the parties settled for a consent order before Justice Tshepho Motswagole, agreeing that the government should pay the BOFEPUSU members the three and four percent increase awarded to other public workers for financial year 2016/17 and 2017/18.
However, the order was subject to BOFEPUSU issuing a rebuttal statement clarifying an article that appeared in The Patriot on Sunday newspaper edition of May 27. Moreover, when the affected workforce finally got adjustments- the payment of the stated salary increment did not include arrears of financial year 2016/17, which effected on April 1, 2016 and 2017/18, which effected in April 1, 2017.
It was only until August that government, through the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) secretary general, Mpho Balopi decided to pay back arrears to members of the unions who were not awarded the increments as they had initially declined to accept. While NALCGPWU (former Manual Workers Union), and Botswana Land Boards, Local Authorities and Health Workers Union members got their arrears those of Botswana Teachers Union, Botswana Sectors of Educators Union (BOSETU) were delayed.
“When we finally got the back-pays mid-October, there was no communication from the employer that the money was not taxed. Moreover, since we got the money mid-month, there was no advise slip to show the breakdown, so we didn’t know that it wasn’t taxed,” said an affected teacher.
Another said since it was not their own doing, it could have been fair for the employer to negotiate with the affected employees on a payment plan as opposed to deducting tax without consultation.
“Honestly most our take-homes are very meager following the many deductions that we have, now with this tax issue we are walking home empty handed. It is a sad state, some of us have been left with balances of below P1,000,” yet another teacher who preferred anonymity said.
It has since emerged that union leadership will meet the employer party on Monday to register their displeasure.
“We are meeting with the permanent secretary of Basic Education on Monday to get to the bottom of this issue,” BOSETU spokesperson, Edwin Maitshoko said.