Trade Unions are a cornerstone of any effective system of industrial relations that seek to balance the need for enterprises to remain competitive with the aspiration of workers for higher wages and better working conditions.

Unions act as agents for labour, organising large numbers of workers into a single entity whose collective bargaining power matches that of the employer.

Trade Unions can also monitor employers’ compliance with Government regulations, and they can help raise workplace productivity and reduce discrimination.

Currently, a large part of private sector workers remains unorganised in Botswana. Many Trade Unions which sought to play in that space remain dormant for various reasons, some of which include lack of funding, inexperienced leadership and workplace harassment from certain employers.

These are the words of Kaboyaone Rash Sedimo, the General Secretary of the newly- formed trade union going by the name, Botswana Public Parastatals and Private Alliance Workers Union ( BOPPAWU) in an interview with Botswana Guardian this week.

BOPPAWU classifies itself as a Socialist- oriented general trade union formed to organise workers from both the Government and the private Sector.

“BOPPAWU is a progressive movement which is also futuristic in the sense that it’s targeting workers holding precarious jobs including the informal sector. Most of its leadership is from

the public service and were mainly members of BOPEU although there are also workers from other trade unions like BTU, BOSETU, BLLAHWU and the private sector.

“They have been at the leadership of BOPEU in various positions including its top structure, being the National Office Bearers ( NOB). This gives the leadership of BOPPAWU a good understanding of labour dynamics in this country,” Sedimo argued.

He boasted that some of the union’s current leadership have led even at the international level, some having served at PSI International. BOPPAWU is led by National Office Bearers and Trustees, namely Donald Tshepo Mokgwe, an Economist by profession as President. He is deputised by Ruth Scaba Khupe as the first Deputy President; Patricia Raditladi as the second Deputy President.

Sedimo as the General Secretary is assisted by Zibani Philemon as the Deputy General Secretary. Gofaone James Moduka completes the NOB list as the Treasurer General.

The Trustees of the new trade union are Mmatlhapi Charity Masoloko, Boikhutso Lucas, Jimson Richard, Setshwano Tokwe and Gaborone West Customary Court President Kgosi Arnold Rapula Somolekae.

According to Sedimo BOPPAWU is a General Trade Union whose objectives among others is to organise, recruit and represent workers, and strengthen workplace organisation, to encourage membership involvement and participation to achieve real union power for its members.

BOPPAWU, he said, seeks to defend and improve its members’ wages and working conditions including the pursuit of equal pay for work of equal value and extend collective bargaining.

He contended that this is the best and most effective means of distributing wealth, improving the wages and conditions of workers, and giving workers collective power in the workplace.

The General Secretary stated that they intend to defend and improve the social and economic well- being of members and their families, both directly and via commensurate policies in relation to society domestically.

They want to have a strong political voice, fighting on behalf of working peoples’ interests, and to influence the political agenda at the branches, regionally, nationally and internationally, so as to promote a socialist vision for a more equal society in which wealth is distributed from the rich to the poor, including by means of progressive taxation and other regulatory measures to restrict excessive wealth.

Deputy General Secretary Zibani Philemon on the other hand stated that they aspire for a collective society in which public services are directly provided on the basis of public need and not private greed, and a fair system of welfare and benefits to support those in need.

He emphasised that they will unequivocally pursue a just society where jobs are protected and support public ownership of important areas of economic activity and services, including health, education, water, post, rail and local passenger transport.

When asked about their political position as a union, Philemon stated that the union is controlled by its members and they will be in a position to guide the movement going forward and that as of now their focus will be recruiting and growing their organisation; but stated that there is no way mainstream politics can be separated from workers politics and that in future, if membership so directs, they cannot rule out the possibility of furthering political objectives including affiliation to any party that represents the interest of the working class.

He added that their organisation promotes equality and fairness for all, including actively opposing prejudice and discrimination on grounds of gender, race, ethnic origin, religion, class, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability.

When responding to whether they have any intention of working with other unions, Sedimo stated that they will like to promote constructive cooperation between trade unions locally to further the interests of members of the Union and those in other unions in dealing with the direct and indirect impact of globalisation; and that they will promote education and training; both vocational and industrial and that they intend to provide such financial and other benefits and legal assistance to members as may be dictated by their constitution.

Sedimo said that they will communicate information to members about union activities, campaigns, services and/ or benefits, so as to encourage participation and ownership of decisions within the organization.

Sedimo empathised that they take very seriously the economic situations of their members and that they will promote or defend the socio- economic interests of workers without fear.

He stated that they are going to fight against arbitrary and unfair dismissal of workers; more especially in the private sector and that they will resist retrenchment and fight for full employment including to fight for adequate social security from the state and from employers.

To top it all off, Sedimo has stated that they are negotiating with various investors, within and outside the country, to progressively service their membership.

When fully functional, they intend to invest in businesses that workers will directly benefit like retailing, manufacturing and tourism sectors.

BOPPAWU already has a very progressive group funeral cover to cater for members who will be joining from other unions, who might have had similar funeral policies prior to joining BOPPAWU, added the General Secretary.