BOSETU accuses exams body
MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer
| Wednesday August 6, 2008 00:00
But BEC has reacted by saying what BOSETU considered negotiations was only consultation meetings it has been having 'with our various stakeholders' and that in any case, BOSETU 'cannot claim to represent all teachers as others belong to other trade unions'.
BOSETU has interpreted this to mean that BEC refuses to recognise it as a negotiating partner.
The union believed it was about to obtain a better deal for exam markers following 'successive negotiations with BEC'only to learn from the grapevine early this week that BEC had forged ahead and invited exam markers for the seasonal jobs.
BOSETU reacted by writing to all its members, urging them to ignore the letters of offer from BEC. In the letters, the union's CEO, Justin Hunyepa, describes the BEC invitations as 'fake'.
'BOSETU advises all teachers to ignore such letters as they may be fake or the work of a conman,' the union letter reads. 'The union has met BEC twice recently, to discuss the conditions at the marking centres and the remuneration that the union wants teachers paid.
'The union is therefore investigating the origins and authenticity of the letter. If the letter turns out to be genuine, this will be a case of negotiating in bad faith by BEC'
Hunyepa argues that as a registered trade union, BOSETU's aim is to negotiate on behalf of its members in order to advance their individual and collective interests, improve their terms of employment, and to promote the professional status of teachers in general.
Hunyepa is angry that BEC - formerly the Examinations, Research and Testing Division in the Ministry of Education - improved its staff salaries upon becoming a parastatal, but continues to neglect exam markers.
He says exam markers are not happy with their working conditions, wages, living allowances, and even the meals they are given during marking.
But a BEC spokesman, Spencer Moreri, has denied ever going into negotiations with BOSETU, saying BEC does not negotiate for wages with unions. 'We do not have the powers to negotiate,' Moreri says, 'and we have never entered into any negotiations whatsoever with BOSETU. Our duty is only to consult with our various stakeholders, including BOSETU.
'We have been having meetings with BOSETU to hear their thoughts (sic) on how the allowances and wages can be improved. But some of these things might need a consultant to look into.'
Moreri says BEC continues to consult with other stakeholders such as Botswana Public Employees Union, and that BOSETU cannot claim to represent all teachers as others belong to other trade unions.
After consulting with its stakeholders, BEC will report to an appropriate Council chaired by Professor John Melamu of the University of Botswana. 'The Council makes final determinations regarding wages,' Moreri says. 'This Council also has a teachers' union representative.
'We are still consulting as to whether BOSETU can be recognised as a negotiator. Even the likes of BOPEU are yet to be considered as negotiators.'
Moreri says when BEC invites exam markers, it is not obliged to route the invitations through unions because BEC invites teachers as individuals.
'The Botswana Examinations Council, indeed sent invitations for JCE marking on the July 31, 2008 to markers and would like to confirm that these letters are genuine,' BEC says in a written response to Mmegi enquiries.
'As part of the examination cycle, it is normal procedure that at this time invitations for marking are sent to individual teachers.'