Air Botswana Employees Union (ABEU) has issued a statutory notice that it will be taking the embattled management of the national airline to court for failure to enforce the agreement of the salary gap.
The agreement which is legal and binding was signed by Union chairperson Pius Tshepe and Chairman Wilhemina Makwinja and was expected to go into effect on January 14th, 2016.
However, the union expressed their unhappiness at the management’s failure to implement the union management agreement of the salary gap.
At the meeting which was held on January 8th, 2016 at Air Botswana offices, ABEU and the Air Botswana management agreed to close the salary gap of the Airline as approved by the Board of Air Botswana in 2014. Amongst other things, both parties agreed on the modalities of implementing the 27 percent salary gap as directed by the Board in three phases being October 1st 2015, April 1st 2015 and finally on October 1st 2016 based on the individual performance.
Also at the meeting, management agreed to ensure that appraisals would be done properly and fairly with exceptional performance, exceeding performance and under performance being justified.
According to the agreement, management was supposed to confirm that the late payment of the first trench would be back paid effective October 2015 for April to September performance. “Payment of the first trench will be effected end of February 2016 and will be back dated to October 2015. Cost of living adjustment will be effected separately from the gap closure,” read part of the agreement.
A reliable source who preferred anonymity criticised the top management accusing them of not having the necessary skills required to revamp the ailing national airline.
“Nobody has bothered to seek alternatives and creative ways as far as new operations and staff welfare are concerned despite a wanting air transport in the region and beyond,” said the source.
In response to the matter, Air Botswana Marketing Manager Thapelo Moribame said, “unfortunately Air Botswana cannot comment on the matter”.
