Botswana's civil servants stay away after strike ends
Striking Botswana public service workers who were on Monday expected to end their eight-week strike failed to return to work and continued to protest.
"Our members had not received the information that the strike had been called off. Tomorrow [Tuesday] everyone will be back at work because we are still spreading the message," said the unions' spokesperson Goretetse Kekgonegile.
The idea that the workers didn't know the strike was over has to be one of the greatest (and stupidest) lies in labor history. The union is trying to show that they are still in control of the workforce.
http://mg.co.za/article/2011-06-13-botswanas-civil-servants-stay-away-after-strike-ends
Workers say they were never consulted on decision to halt strike.
Strikers challenge suspension of strike
The union members expressed deep disappointment with the Federation’s decision to suspend the strike without consulting the rank and file. They called the leadership ‘sell outs’. One member even suggested that they hold an emergency special congress to vote BOFEPUSU labour secretary, Johnson Motshwarakgole, and his interim committee out office because they suspected that the leadership was “bought”.
http://gazettebw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10070:strikers-challenge-suspension-of-strike&catid=18:headlines&Itemid=2
And no sooner had the workers accused their union of selling out than the police arrive on scene.
Police detain 25 ‘strikers’
One witnesses[sic] claimed when the Police approached them they were fully armed and seemed ready to fire at the gathered workers. He said they literally did a countdown for the people to disperse, firmly holding their guns.
Workers denounce their leadership and the police show up. Infer what you will.
http://gazettebw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10040:police-detain-25-strikers&catid=18:headlines&Itemid=2
The only issue remaining is whether all workers will be reinstated.
Botswana’s public workers face dismissal
The government has already fired about 3 000 health workers who ignored a court order to return to the job. Unions have demanded their reinstatement, but government has agreed only to consider their applications if they apply for their job again. - Sapa-AFP
And this.
After weeks of silence, President Ian Khama came out to say the country could not afford the increases and essential service workers who defied a court order to return to work were fired.
http://www.iol.co.za/news/africa/botswana-s-public-workers-face-dismissal-1.1084206
http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/Africa/Botswana-civil-servants-say-they-are-not-losers-13202.html
The pretext for denying civil servants a raise commensurate with inflation was that Botswana couldn't afford it.
National accounts return to surplus
Buoyed by strong exports and the drawing down of the US$500 million remaining in the African Development Bank loan, Botswana's balance of payments returned to surplus in the first quarter of 2011 at P2.8 billion, Bank of Botswana (BoB) officials revealed yesterday.
Please note the debt forgiveness awarded to Botswana after they broke the strike. If you think that is a coincidence, I wish I lived in the world you think you live in.
http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=4&aid=1625&dir=2011/June/Thursday16
Things look bright for Botswana. That is if your definition of Botswana excludes its people.
