The Directorate of Public Service Management (DPSM) and the Public Sector Unions mentioned below would like to inform stakeholders that preparations and administrative logistics for Public Service salary negotiations were finalised on Monday 28th January 2019. The actual negotiations will commence on Thursday 31st January 2019.
· The negotiating parties (Government and Public Sector Unions) have exchanged Position Papers.
· Rules of negotiations have been finalised and agreed upon by both negotiating parties.
· Negotiating parties have agreed to appoint an independent chairperson (Not from Government/Unions) for the duration of the negotiation period.
The following Six (6) Unions under the Chairmanship of Mr Felix T. Lesetedi will negotiate as a block in order to expedite the process: Botswana Public Employees Union (BOPEU); National Amalgamated Local, Central Government and Parastatal Workers Union (NALCGPWU); Botswana Teachers Union (BTU); Botswana Sectors of Educators Trade Union (BOSETU); Botswana Land board, Local Authorities and Health Workers Union (BLLAHWU) and Botswana Nurses Union (BONU).
As part of the rules of negotiation, both parties have agreed that whenever need arises a joint media statement signed by the two deputy Chairpersons or their representatives will be released. Chief Negotiators for the Employer Party and the Union Party are Dr Theophilus Mooko and Mr Tobokani Rari respectively.
The long awaited PEMANDU Report was received by Government on the 25th
January 2019 and shared with all Public Sector Unions on the 29th January
2019. However, ithas not been processed by the relevant structures of the two parties, but can be used to inform the process. We would like to put it on record that the Report does not represent Government’s position.
Meanwhile in a separate press statement DPSM confirmed similar discussions with two other unions – Trainers and Allied Workers’ Union (TAWU) and Botswana Government Workers’ Union (BOGOWU) whose chairperson is Abel Modungwa. Allan Keitseng is their Chief Negotiator.