With the International Labour Day just a few days past, it is important to once again take a fresh look at the dynamics obtaining inside Botswana’s labour organisations. We are of the view that while Trade Unions have grown significantly over the last five years, it is now time for them to evaluate on their new strategies going forward. Informing such a strategy should be a desire to stay relevant, not just to the overall political economy but also to their members. Quite clearly, a prolonged strike action by public sector workers which ended with them not extracting any concessions from their employer continues to haunt the credibility of trade union leaders.
The defeat they suffered at the hands of government actually plays a big role in the leadership’s current static posture not to make amends with government. The truth of the matter is that trade unions leaders have not accepted defeat. They are behaving like a spouse who simply would not accept or believe that their partner has died. This in our view is very dangerous especially as it has put the union leaders on a perpetual fighting mode. Negotiations are never top of their minds. For them it’s always all or nothing, hence to go to courts at every single irritation. So litigious are they that it is no longer clear how they really are financing their legal costs. We readily admit that litigation is almost an inevitability for trade unions and the employer, but the frequency at which trade unions are approaching the courts to resolve every standoff is in our view quite alarming.
We are of the view that trade unions should pause and concentrate on developing a new crop of leadership. This is crucial for them if they are to survive in the medium to long terms. Another thing that is necessary at this moment is that trade unions have to take a fresher and more detached look at their priorities. We are in no way saying they should not be involved in politics. That is an extreme view, held by government, which in our view is both unhelpful and untenable. Rather we are saying items like conditions at the work place should once again become Trade Unions’ preoccupation. Current obsession with politics is poisonous, divisive and counterproductive.
Another thing is that union leaders have to be trained in negotiation. This will include knowing when to make concessions and when to accept that they have lost a debate. At the moment it is not clear just how much money from their membership fees trade unions have set aside either as investments or for such for such matters like strike funds to be used during strikes. What is clear though is that at the pace they are being milked by litigation costs, not much is set aside to be used during difficult times. We call on trade unions to de-escalate and consider their options. But then we accept that this may not be possible until after the General Elections which from the look of things they are determined to influence the outcome. But still it may be time they prepare now for what lies beyond the horizon.
