NB: This email and its contents are subject to the Eskom Holdings Limited EMAIL LEGAL NOTICE which can be viewed at http://www.eskom.co.za/email_legalnotice ------------------------------------------------------------------------ union bashing at its best..
>>> Vusi Nzapheza <[email protected]> 2010/10/22 11:40 AM >>> Trade unions accused of militancy[image: PDF]<http://gazettebw.com/index.php?view=article&catid=18%3Aheadlines&id=7792%3Atrade-unions-accused-of-militancy-&format=pdf&option=com_content&Itemid=2>[image: Print]<http://gazettebw.com/index.php?view=article&catid=18%3Aheadlines&id=7792%3Atrade-unions-accused-of-militancy-&tmpl=component&print=1&layout=default&page=&option=com_content&Itemid=2>[image: E-mail]<http://gazettebw.com/index.php?option=com_mailto&tmpl=component&link=aHR0cDovL2dhemV0dGVidy5jb20vaW5kZXgucGhwP29wdGlvbj1jb21fY29udGVudCZ2aWV3PWFydGljbGUmaWQ9Nzc5Mjp0cmFkZS11bmlvbnMtYWNjdXNlZC1vZi1taWxpdGFuY3ktJmNhdGlkPTE4OmhlYWRsaW5lcyZJdGVtaWQ9Mg==>Written by ........... TUESDAY, 19 OCTOBER 2010 12:44 *They are accused of emulating South African Trade Unions Unions frustrated with Government’s intransigence* Some members of the government enclave last week accused Trade Unions of being militant in dealing with government and warned that this would ‘harden hearts.’ Various speakers were of the view that trade unions also affect productivity in this country by driving their members astray on several occasions. They said onions should be responsible and deal with issues in a more appropriate and acceptable way. “Why are you always approaching issues militarily instead of in a more productive way?,” said an attendant from the Public Reforms Unit. Another speaker, Nathania Tlhalerwa who is from the Ministry of Labor and Home Affairs said if the militarization goes on like this, it will cause a lot of unnecessary causalities, adding that “this then rests on who has the power in his hands.” Adding thoughtfully, “when two bulls fight, it is the grass that suffers.” Another speaker said unions should embrace the fact that unions in Botswana unlike in other countries have been given ample room to say and do whatever they want to do, adding that “you should as unions be thankful for that freedom” yet another followed, saying Botswana Unions are the copy-cats of the South African COSATU. “You are always putting on their colours and doing what they do, why can’t you be yourself and develop your own brands. We never see South Africa Unions putting on Botswana colours but the opposite is true here,” said another observer. He said unions have now resorted to playing the blame game and have turned themselves into ‘last borns of management’ instead of concentrating on training their employees to acquire more skills and knowledge to be productive. “You have unnecessarily put on COSATU gear, my advice to you is that why can’t you at least emulate Scandinavian countries where unions are government led and are partners instead of opponents. You are part of the tripartite,” he concluded. A Union Executive committee member from the University of Botswana, Dr. Never Tshabang revealed that people are talking about things they don’t know and understand. “I can tell that you are from government offices,” he said, tongue in cheek. Dr Tshabang said their line of duty is on its own a militant job and that there is no way they can be soft whey they are advocating for serious issues dealing directly with the lives of people. “Issues of poverty, injustice in the workplace, maladministration, workers exploitation among others are not soft issues,” he charged. “The government is not soft on us, so why should we be to it,” he asked. He explained that, “the colour of red has always being associated with unions, even in our meetings with COSATU and other unions we always exchange T-shirts ,so don’t be surprised when you see them putting on Botswana colours in the future.” Dr. Tshabang stressed “… government shouldn’t tell us how we should run our business and do our things because we never tell them how to run theirs.” He said if people want them to emulate their Scandinavian counterparts they should advice government to emulate other countries who are listening to the needs and expectations of their workforce, “if you want us to behave like others let our government do the same.” “ Trade Unions have helped workers in Botswana to stay competitive, remain employable and enhance productivity, adding “we enhance the social status and well-being of workers and build a strong, responsible and caring labour movement.” Dr. Tshabang observed that Trade Unions, have to play a vital in socio-economic role. “When productivity is growing, living standards tend to rise,” he revealed before quoting Lim Swee, who once said "Job is the best welfare, full employment is the best protection for workers and productivity gain is the best driver for wage increase (in the future).” *BY TEFO PHEAGE NB: This email and its contents are subject to the Eskom Holdings Limited EMAIL LEGAL NOTICE which can be viewed at http://www.eskom.co.za/email_legalnotice -- You are subscribed. 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