The High Court has issued an order directing the Botswana Nurses Union (BONU) the Directorate of Public Service Management and the Ministry of Health to consult other unions on the preparation of the annual nurses awards.
The other three unions which have nurses as their members are Botswana Land Board & Local Authorities & Health Workers Union (BLLAHWU), Botswana Public Employee Union (BOPEU) and the National Amalgamated Local & Central Government Parastatal Workers Union (NALCGPWU).
The order states in part: “The 1st – 3rd Respondents (BONU, DPSM, Ministry) herein agree to consult with the Applicant Trade Unions (BLLAHWU, BOPEU, NALCGPWU) on the preparations of the Annual Nurses Awards and any consultative matter attendant thereto.”
The result is that the three unions abandoned their intended review application in relation to the matter.
In a statement following the Court order, the three unions stated: “It can be recalled that on the 24th August 2022, BLLAHWU, BOPEU, NALCGPWU instituted an urgent application against the Ministry of Health and Directorate of Public Service Management regarding sidelining of the three unions on nursing day and nursing awards.”
The statement says the Court granted an interim order in favour of the three Unions, and the event was halted.
The statement says now a final Court order was made on the 12th September 2022 to the effect that Directorate of Public Service Management and Ministry of Health will consult BLLAHWU, BOPEU, NALCGPWU on the preparation of the Annual Nurses Awards and any matter attendant thereto.
“The applicants have been vindicated as the employer has conceded to our legitimate demands. The matter has now been settled in accordance with what the three Unions have always humbly requested for to no avail,” the statement says.
The statement further states: “As the three Unions we will work cordially with the Ministry of Health and our dear colleagues in Botswana Nurses Union for a more improved and spectacular version of nursing day and awards, to propel the dignity of the nursing cadre who play a critical role in the economy.”
Finally, the unions said, “we reiterate that we stand for better welfare and conditions service of nurses as they are currently facing a number of difficulties in the workplace.” “We preach unity of the working class, that workers and Trade Unions must be united for their agenda is one. It is the duty of Union leaders to rise up to unite the working class for the realisation of workers victories,” they said.
